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FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL 
4-          HISTORY 

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ZOOLOGICAL  SERIES 
VOLUME  XI 


CHICAGO,  U.  S.  A. 
1912 


FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

PUBLICATION  153. 
ZOOLOGICAL  SERIES.  VOL.  XL 


THE   MAMMALS   OF   ILLINOIS 
AND   WISCONSIN 


BY 


CHARLES  B.  CORY 
Curator  of  Department  of  Zoology. 


CHICAGO,  U.  S.  A. 

IQI2 


PREFACE. 


The  present  work  includes,  so  far  as  known,  all  the  living  mammals 
which  have  been  found  in  Illinois  and  Wisconsin,  and  gives  descriptions 
of  the  various  species  and  subspecies,  with  more  or  less  of  their  life 
histories,  together  with  maps  illustrating  their  supposed  geographical 
distribution.  To  increase  its  usefulness,  brief  synopses  of  all  the  known 
species  and  subspecies,  belonging  to  our  genera,  which  occur  in  eastern 
North  America,  are  given  and  their  distribution  is  indicated  in  the  maps. 

While  it  is  hoped  it  will  prove  a  useful  book  of  reference  for  the 

•  specialist,  it  has  been  written  with  special  regard  to  the  needs  of  the 
layman,  for,  without  departing  from  scientific  lines,  I  have  endeavored 
to  make  it  as  non-technical  and  popular  in  character  as  a  serious  con- 
sideration of  the  subject  would  permit. 

With  this  object  in  view,  for  the  purpose  of  simplifying  identifica- 
tion of  the  various  species  belonging  to  a  family,  they  are,  wherever 
possible,  arranged  in  the  keys  in  groups  based  upon  external  characters 
which  may  be  readily  recognized  by  the  lay  reader,  often  regardless  of 
their  genera  and  not  serially  in  their  proper  order  as  they  are  treated 
in  the  text.  In  a  few  cases,  however,  positive  identification  of  a  species 
depends  upon  dental  characters  which,  while  usually  well-marked,  are 
sometimes  (as  among  the  Shrews)  too  small  to  be  seen  with  the  naked 

Cj 

eye.     The  student  should  therefore  provide  himself  with  a  strong  lens 
for  the  purpose. 

At  the  present  time  94  species  and  subspecies  of  mammals  have 

•^   been  recorded  from  Illinois  and  Wisconsin,  and  probably  several  more 

.    will  in  time  be  added  to  the  list.     Such  species  as  Dyche's  Harvest 

Mouse    (Reithrodontomys    dychei),    Little    Meadow    Mouse    (Microtus 

minor},  Woodland  Jumping  Mouse  (Napceozapus  insignis),  Prairie  Spot- 

L   ted  Skunk  (Spilogale  interrupta) ,  Big-eared  Bat  (Corynorhinus  macrotis} 

•  and    Free-tailed   Bat    (Nyctinomus    depressus),   have   been  taken    in 
^  such  nearby  localities  that  there  is  little  doubt  that  most  of  them  will 
^,  ultimately  be  found  to  occur  within  our  limits. 

Those  who  desire  to  study  our  mammals  will  be  interested  to  learn 
ejf  that  a  considerable  number  may  still  be  found  in  a  wild  state  in 
%  the  public  parks  of  Chicago.  In  Jackson  Park  alone  I  have  seen  the 
05  following  fifteen  species:  Northern  Gray  Squirrel,  "Striped  Ground 


212169 


2  PREFACE 

Squirrel  or  "Gopher,"  Northern  White-footed  Mouse,  Meadow  Mouse, 
Muskrat,  House  Mouse,  House  Rat  or  Norway  Rat,  Cotton-tail  Rab- 
bit, Mink,  Common  Shrew,*  Short-tailed  Shrew,*  Prairie  Mole,* 
Silver-haired  Bat,*  Red  Bat,*  and  Hoary  Bat.*  In  addition  to  these 
there  is  a  specimen  of  the  Raccoon  in  this  Museum,  which  was 
killed  in  Jackson  Park  in  1898,  and  I  am  informed  that  Chipmunks, 
a  Skunk  and  a  Weasel  have  been  seen. 

In  preparing  the  present  work  the  majority  of  specimens  examined 
are  in  the  collection  of  the  Field  Museum  of  Natural  History;  but  in 
addition  to  these  a  large  number  were  loaned  to  me  by  other  Museums 
and  private  collectors.  In  this  connection  I  wish  especially  to  express 
my  thanks  to  Dr.  C.  Hart  Merriam  and  Mr.  H.  W.  Henshaw,  U.  S. 
Biological  Survey,  Washington;  Dr.  J.  A.  Allen  and  Mr.  Roy  C.  An- 
drews, American  Museum  of  Natural  History,  New  York;  Mr.  Outram 
Bangs,  Museum  of  Comparative  Zoology,  Cambridge;  Mr.  Gerrit  S. 
Miller,  Jr.,  National  Museum,  Washington;  Mr.  Witmer  Stone,  Acad- 
emy of  Natural  Sciences,  Philadelphia;  Mr.  H.  L.  Ward,  Milwaukee 
Public  Museum;  Dr.  H.  V.  Ogden,  Milwaukee;  Dr.  B.  H.  Bailey,  Coe 
College  Museum,  Cedar  Rapids,  Iowa;  and  Mr.  W.  E.  Snyder,  Beaver 
Dam,  Wisconsin. 

In  the  lists  of  specimens  examined  those  not  contained  in  the  Field 
Museum  collection  are  indicated  as  follows:  (N.  M.)  U.  S.  National 
Museum;  (B.  S.)  U.  S.  Biological  Survey;  (A.  M.)  American  Museum 
of  Natural  History;  (M.  C.  Z.)  Museum  of  Comparative  Zoology; 
(I.  S.  L.)  Illinois  State  Laboratory  of  Natural  History,  Urbana;  (M.  P. 
M.)  Milwaukee  Public-  Museum;  (O.  C.)  Collection  of  Dr.  H.  V. 
Ogden,  Milwaukee;  (S.  C.)  Collection  of  Mr.  W.  E.  Snyder,  Beaver  Dam, 
Wisconsin;  (O.)  from  other  sources,  special  mention  of  which  is  usually 
made  in  the  text.  In  all  other  cases  the  names  of  individuals  or  in- 
stitutions from  which  the  specimens  were  received  are  given  in  full. 

Practically  all  of  the  original  drawings  for  the  halftones  and  many 
of  the  zinc-etchings  are  the  work  of  Mr.  Leon  L.  Pray;  and  the  maps 
and  nearly  all  the  cuts  of  teeth,  feet,  etc.,  were  carefully  drawn  by  Mr. 
A.  B.  Wolcott. 

In  conclusion,  it  is  a  pleasure  to  express-  my  appreciation  of  the  kind 
assistance  of  Mr.  William  J.  Gerhard,  Assistant  Curator  of  Entomol- 
ogy in  this  Museum,  in  reading  proof,  preparing  the  index  and  constantly 
aiding  me  in  many  ways  which  materially  lessened  my  labor. 

November  i,  1911.  CHARLES  B.  CORY. 

*  Found  dead  or  trapped. 


CONTENTS. 


PREFACE    J 

CONTENTS - 3 

MAPS  ILLUSTRATING  THE  DISTRIBUTION  OF  SPECIES  AND  SUB- 
SPECIES BELONGING  TO  THE  GENERA  REPRESENTED  WITHIN 
OUR  LIMITS  IN  THE  EASTERN  UNITED  STATES  AND  SOUTHERN 

CANADA    7 

INTRODUCTION      . g 

THE  OSSEUS  SYSTEM      .  10 

Skull,  13;  Teeth,  13;  Vertebral  Column,  15;  Pelvis,  15;  Ribs, 

15;  Sternum,  15;  Scapula,  16;  Clavicle,  16;  Limbs  and  Feet,  16. 

ANATOMICAL  AND  PHYSIOLOGICAL  CHARACTERS  IN  GENERAL        .      17 

Tegumentary  Structures 18 

Hoofs,  Claws  and  Nails,  18;  Hair,  18;  Odor-secreting  Glands, 
19. 

Circulatory  and  Digestive  Systems IQ 

Heart,    20;   Lungs,   21;  Blood,    21;  Stomach  and  Intestinal 
Canal,  22;  Liver,  23. 

Urinary  Organs       ; 23 

Reproductive  Organs 23 

Mammary  Glands    .  24 

Nervous  System  and  Organs  of  Sense     .  24 

Brain,  24;  Spinal  Chord,  24;  Sense  of  Touch,  24;  Sight,  25; 
Smell,  26;  Hearing,  26;  Taste,  26. 

TAXONOMY  AND  CLASSIFICATION 27 

SUBCLASSES,  ORDERS  AND  SUBORDERS  OF  LIVING  MAMMALS  .      .     28 
CLASSIFIED  LIST  OF  MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN       .     30 

How  TO  ESTIMATE  THE  AGE  OF  A  MAMMAL 37 

How  TO  MEASURE  A  MAMMAL 37 

LIFE  ZONES 38 

KEY  TO  THE  ORDERS  AND  FAMILIES  REPRESENTED   WITHIN  OUR 

LIMITS 41 

Key  to  the  Orders    .      .      .      .      .      .  .      ...      .      .41 

Key  to  the  Families 41 

ORDER  MARSUPIALIA.     MARSUPIALS 49 

Family  Didelphiidae.     Opossums -.      .      .      .      51 

3 


4  CONTENTS 

ORDER  UNGULATA.     HOOFED  MAMMALS 57 

Family  Cervidas.     Deer,  Moose,  Elk,  Caribou 58 

Key  to  the  Genera 59 

Key  to  the  Species   .....      .      ......      .      .      59 

Family  Bovidae.     Bison,  Oxen,  Sheep,  etc 86 

ORDER  GLIRES.     GNAWING  MAMMALS 97 

Key  to  the  Suborders  and  Families "    .     98 

Family  Sciuridae.     Squirrels,  Woodchucks,  etc 98 

Key  to  the  Genera   .      .    .  .      . 99 

Key  to  the  Species ^.-,. 99 

Subfamily  Pteromyinae.     Flying  Squirrels     .      .      .      .      .      .102 

Subfamily  Sciurinse.     Squirrels,  Chipmunks,  etc 108 

Subfamily  Marmotinae.     Prairie  Squirrels,  Woodchucks,  etc.    .    137 

Family  Castoridae.     Beavers 158 

Family  Muridae.     Rats  and  Mice     .      .      .      ., 171 

Key  to  the  Genera 171 

Key  to  the  Species 173 

Subfamily  Murinae.     Old  World  Rats  and  Mice       .      .      .      .176 
Subfamily  Cricetinag.     White-footed  Mice,  Cotton  Mice,  etc.   .    183 

Key  to  the  Species ' 183 

Subfamily  Neotominse.     Wood  Rats 204 

Subfamily   Microtinae.     Meadow   Mice   or    Voles,   Lemming 

Mice,  and  Muskrats  .      .      .      .     t 208 

Key  to  the  Subgenera  and  Species  of  M icrotus 213 

Family  Geomyidas.     Pocket  Gophers     .      ..      .      ..      .      .239 

Family  Zapodidae.     Jumping  Mice   .      . 246 

Subfamily  Zapodinae.     American  Jumping  Mice      ....    246 

Family  Erethizontidas.     American  Porcupines 253 

Subfamily  Erethizontinae.     American  Porcupines    .      .      .      .254 

Family  Leporidas.     Hares  and  Rabbits       .      .      .      ...-*.      -259 

Key  to  the  Genera 261 

Key  to  the  Species .      .      .    261 

ORDER  FER.E.     FLESH  EATERS      .      .      . 275 

Key  to  the  Families    ' 277 

Family  Felidas.     The  Cats     .      .      ..'..'.     '..'.-.      -277 
Subfamily  Felinas.     Panthers,  Lynx,  Wild  Cat,  etc.      .      .      .279 

Key  to  the  Genera .      .279 

Key  to  the  Species , 279 

Family  Canidae.     Wolves  and  Foxes 296 

Key  to  the  Genera  . 298 

Key  to  the  Species 299 

Family  Mustelidae.  Otters,  Minks,  Weasels,  Skunks,  Badgers,  etc.  327 


CONTENTS  5 

Key  to  the  Subfamilies  and  Genera 328 

Subfamily  Lutrinae.     Otters 330 

Subfamily  Melinae.     Skunks  and  Badgers 335 

Key  to  the  Species  of  Skunks  (Mephitis  and  Spilogale)       .      .  336 
Subfamily    Mustelinae.     Minks,    Weasels,     Martens    and 

Wolverine 352 

Key  to  the  Species  of  Minks  and  Weasels  (Putorius)        .      .      -359 

Key  to  the  Species  of  Martens  (Mustela) 381 

Family  Procyonidae.     Raccoons 391 

Subfamily  Procyoninae.     American  Raccoons 391 

Family  Ursidas.     Bears 396 

ORDER  INSECTIVORA.     INSECT  EATERS 405 

Key  to  the  Families       .            406 

Family  Soricidas.     Shrews 406 

Key  to  the  Genera 407 

Key  to  the  Species 409 

Subfamily  Soricinae.     Shrews  .      .  ',- 410 

Family  Talpidae.     Moles 433 

Subfamily  Talpinae.     Moles     ..'... 434 

Key  to  the  Genera 434 

ORDER  CHIROPTERA.     BATS      .                 445 

Family  Vespertilionidae.     Typical  Bats 451 

Key  to  the  Genera   .......           451 

Key  to  the  Species 453 

Subfamily  Vespertilioninae        . 455 

Family  Molossidae.     Free-tailed  Bats 477 

ORDER  PRIMATES.     MAN,  APES,  MONKEYS,  ETC 478 

Family  Hominidas.     Man 478 

APPENDIX.     SOME  ANIMALS  OF  THE  PAST 480 

BIBLIOGRAPHY       .                 483 

GLOSSARY ' 489 

INDEX  ...  .493 

MAP  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN 505 


MAPS 

ILLUSTRATING    THE    DISTRIBUTION    OF    SPECIES    AND 
SUBSPECIES,  BELONGING  TO  THE  GENERA  REPRESENTED 
WITHIN   OUR   LIMITS,   IN   EASTERN   UNITED 
STATES  AND   SOUTHERN   CANADA. 


Opossums,  Didelphis .     56 

Deer,  Odocoileus 66 

Elk  or  Wapiti,  Cervus 73 

Moose,  Parolees 80 

Caribou,  Rangifer 84 

Bison  or  Buffalo,  Bison ../....     94 

Flying  Squirrels,  Sciuropterus     .      .      .      ...      .  .      .      .107 

Fox  Squirrels,  Sciurus  (subgenus  Parasciurus)      .      .      .      ...      .114 

Gray  Squirrels,  Sciurus  (subgenus  Neosciurus) 121 

Red  Squirrels,  Sciurus  (subgenus  T.amiasciurus) 127 

Chipmunks,  Tamias .      .      .      .      .      .    132 

Little  Chipmunk,  Eutamias        .      .      . 136 

Striped  Prairie  Squirrels,  Citellus     .      .      ...      .      .      >,      *      -143 

Franklin's  Prairie  Squirrel,  Citellus       .      .      .      .  / 149 

Woodchucks,  Marmota    . '<  .    .  1.      .155 

Beavers,  Castor     . >  .      .169 

White-footed  Mice,  Peromyscus  leucopus  and  races    .      .      .      :      .189 
Prairie  White-footed  Mice,  Peromyscus  maniculatus  and  races  .      -195 

Cotton  Mice,  Peromyscus  gossipinus  and  races 197 

Golden  Mice,  Peromyscus  nuttalli  and  races    ...  ...    200 

Rice  Field  Mice,  Oryzomys  polustris  and  races 203 

Wood  Rats,  Neotoma       .      .-.' „.      .    206 

Red-backed  Mice  or  Voles,  Evotomys .212 

Meadow  Mice  or  Voles,  Microtus  (subgenus  Microtus)      .      .      .      .217 
Prairie  Meadow  Mice  or  Voles,  Microtus  (subgenus  Pedomys)      .      .221 

Mole  Mouse  or  Vole,  Microtus  (subgenus  Pitymys) 224 

Muskrats,  Fiber 232 

Lemming  Mice,  Synaptomys       .....  238 

Pocket  Gophers,  Geomys       . 244 

Jumping  Mice,  Zapus .      .      .      .      .      .      .    251 

7 


8  MAPS 

Canada  Porcupine,  Erethizon .258 

Varying  Hares,  Lepus  americanus  and  races .265 

Cotton-tail  Rabbits,  Sylvilagus  floridanus  and  races 270 

Swamp  and  Marsh  Rabbits,  Sylvilagus  (subgenus  Tapeti)       .      .      .    273 

Cougars  or  Panthers,  Felis 285 

Canada  Lynxes.     Lynx  (subgenus  Lynx)         290 

Wild  Cats  or  Bay  Lynxes.     Lynx  (subgenus  Eucervaria]      .  ~    .      .294 

Gray  Foxes,  Urocyon  cinereoargentatus  and  races 304 

Red  Foxes,  Vulpes 312 

Gray  Wolves  or  "Big  Wolves,"  Canis 321 

Prairie  Wolves  or  Coyotes,  Canis    .      .      .      . 325 

Otters,  Lutra 334 

Skunks,  Mephitis 345 

Skunks,  Spilogale 347 

Badgers,  Taxidea        . -351 

Wolverine,  Gulo 357 

Minks,  Putorins 365 

New  York  Weasel,  Putorius  noveboracensis -   374 

Bonaparte's  Weasel,  P.  cicognanii 377 

Least  Weasels,  Putorius  rixosus  and  P.  r.  allegheniensis        .      .      -379 
Weasels,  (subgenus  Ictis}.     Type  localities     .      .      .      "...      .      .380 

Martens.     Mustela  (except  M.  pennanti) 386 

Fisher  or  Pecan,  Mustela  pennanti         390 

Raccoons,  Procyon 395 

Black  Bears,  Ursus    .      .-»•.*'. 403 

Shrews,  Sorex .      .      .      .      .   417 

Shrews,  Microsorex .      .  -     .   420 

Shrews,  Neosorex >.      .      .  -  .      .      .      .      .   422 

Shrews,  Blarina  (subgenus  Blarina)      .      .      .      .      .      ?     .      .      .   429 

Shrews,  Blarina  (subgenus  Cryptotis) .     ..432 

Moles,  Scalopus :  438 

Star-nosed  Mole,  Condylura  cristata 442 

Little  Brown  Bat,  Myotis  lucifugus       .......  .   458 

Gray  Bat,  Myotis  griscescens      ....:. 460 

Say's  Bat,  Myotis  subulatus ,      .      .461 

Silver-haired  Bat,  Lasionycteris  noctivagans     .      .      .      .     ' .      .      .   464 

Georgian  Bat,  Pipistrellus  subflavus 466 

Brown  Bats,  Eptesicus  fuscus  and  races     .      .      ....      .  '    .      .   469 

Red  Bats,  Nycteris  borealis  and  races .      .   472 

Hoary  Bat,  Nycteris  cinereus      .      .      .  .      .      .      ...      -474 

Rafinesque  Bat,  Nycticeius  humeralis -   , .     .      .      .   476 


INTRODUCTION. 

A  mammal  represents  the  highest  development  in  the  animal 
kingdom  and  may  be  broadly  denned  as  a  warm-blooded  vertebrate 
animal  more  or  less  covered  with  hair,*  which  suckles  its  young. 

To  describe  it  more  fully,  it  is  an  air-breathing,  warm-blooded 
vertebrate,  differing  from  all  other  animals  except  birds  in  having  a 
four-chambered  heart  and  a  complete  double  circulation,  but  unlike 
birds  the  red  blood  corpuscles  are  non-nucleate.  The  heart  and  lungs 
are  separated  from  the  abdominal  cavity  by  a  muscular  diaphragm. 
With  rare  exceptions  the  jaws  are  armed  with  teeth.  The  skull  articu- 
lates with  the  first  vertebra  (atlas)  of  the  vertebral  column  at  two  sep- 
arate points  (occipital  condyles).  Each  half  of  the  lower  jaw  consists 
of  a  single  bone  which  articulates  directly  with  the  skull.  The  female 
is  furnished  with  teats, t  and  the  young  are  nourished  at  first  by  milk 
secreted  in  the  milk  glands  (mamma}  of  the  mother,  whence  the  name 
of  the  class.  The  young  are  born  in  various  stages  of  development. 
Some,  like  those  of  the  Opossum,  are  rudimentary  at  birth;  while  others 
are  developed  but  hairless,  blind  and  helpless;  and  still  others  when 
born  are  fully  clothed  with  hair,  with  eyes  open,  and  are  able  to  stand 
and  move  about  from  the  first. 

Mammals  differ  strikingly  in  appearance,  habits  and  size :  some  are 
aquatic,  fish-like  and  practically  hairless,  such  as  the  Whales,  Por- 
poises, etc. ;  while  others,  like  the  Bats,  are  provided  with  wings  enabling 
them  to  fly  about  in  the  air.  The  majority  are  terrestrial,  but  some  are 
semi-aquatic;  others  arboreal,  passing  much  of  their  lives  in  trees,  and 
some  live  in  burrows  in  the  ground.  Some  are  diurnal  and  others 
nocturnal,  while  a  considerable  number  cannot  be  strictly  included 
in  either  category.  Most  of  our  species  are  active  in  winter,J  but  a 

*  In  marine  mammals,  such  as  Whales,  while  hair  is  absent  in  the  adult  or 
confined  to  a  few  bristles  about  the  mouth,  it  is  noticeably  present  in  the  young. 

t  The  Monotremes  of  the  Australian  region  furnish  the  only  exception ;  the 
females  have  mammary  glands  but  no  developed  teats. 

t  The  seeming  scarcity  or  absence  of  many  species  in  winter  is  due  to  their 
mode  of  life,  as  comparatively  few  of  them  migrate  in  the  strict  sense  of  the  word. 
Some  of  them,  having  stored  up  food  in  their  homes  during  the  summer,  remain 
indoors  during  the  cold  weather  and  come  out  but  little;  while  others  hibernate 
in  winter.  Among  the  latter  are  the  Ground  Squirrels  (Citettus),  Woodchuck, 
Chipmunks  Jumping  Mouse,  Badger,  Raccoon,  Bear  and  Bats.  The  phenomenon 
of  hibernation  is  a  strange  physiological  condition  peculiar  to  certain  animals,  which 
enables  them  to  thrive  in  regions  where  they  would  otherwise  probably  starve 
in  winter,  were  it  not  for  their  ability  to  remain  dormant  during  such  periods  of 


io      FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

few  hibernate  during  the  cold  weather.  The  majority  of  mammals  are 
thickly  covered  with  hair,  but  a  few  are  provided  with  an  armor  of 
hard,  scaly  plates  (Armadillos);  and  others,  with  long,  sharp  quills 
(Porcupines).  In  size  they  vary  from  the  tiny  Shrew  to  the  gigantic 
Sulphur-bottom  Whale,  having  a  length  of  85  feet  or  more  and  a  weight 
of  as  many  tons. 

THE  OSSEUS  SYSTEM. 

Having  learned  what  mammals  are,  it  is  essential  that  the  student 
should  know  something  of  their  anatomy.  To  enable  him  to  study 
them  intelligently  he  must  know  at  least  the  names  and  locations  of 
the  more  important  bones  of  the  skeleton.  For  ordinary  purposes  this 
can  be  learned  better  from  a  chart  than  from  detailed  descriptions, 


8 


Skeleton  of  a  Bear. 

a,- Skull;  b,  vertebral  column  or  back-bone;  c,  cervical  vertebrae;  d,  dorsal  vertebrae;  e,  lumbar 
vertebra;  f,  sacral  vertebras;  g,  caudal  vertebrae;  h,  ribs;  i,  humerus;  j,  ulna;  1,  radius;  m,  meta- 
carpals;  n,  carpal  bones  or  carpus;  o,  phalanges;  p,  femur;  r,  tibia;  s,  fibula;  t,  metatarsals; 
u,  phalanges;  v,  tarsal  bones;  w,  scapula;  x.  pelvic  girdle  or  hip  bone 

food  scarcity.  The  condition  varies  in  duration  and  intensity  in  different  mammals. 
Some  hibernate  for  only  short  periods  during  the  coldest  weather,  while  others 
remain  for  months  in  a  comatose  condition.  In  the  latter  the  bodily  temperature 
and  action  of  the  respiratory  organs  are  greatly  affected.  While  undoubtedly 
due  originally  to  climatic  conditions,  the  habit  has  become  hereditary,  as  illustrated 
by  certain  southern  species,  which  continue  to  hibernate  when  the  occasion  for  it 
no  longer  exists.  Further  remarks  are  unnecessary  here,  as  the  subject  is  discussed 
more  fully  ater  in  connection  with  the  habits  of  the  various  species. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.          n 


which  in  any  event  would  require  far  too  much  space  in  a  work  of  this 
nature.  I  shall,  therefore,  discuss  briefly  only  those  characters  which 
require  explanation,  and  refer  the  student  to  the  accompanying  charts 
of  skeletons  and  skulls,  the  study  of  which  should  enable  him  to  learn 
the  names  of  the  most  important  bones  and  their  relative  positions. 


Scapula  and  clavicle  with  upper  end  of  ster- 
num and  ribs  of  Shrew  (Sorex) ,  much  enlarged. 
(Adapted  from  Flower's  Osteology.) 

a,  Acromion  process;  b,  metacromial  process; 
c,  coracoid  border;  d,  "spine"  of  scapula; 
e,  scapula  (includes  the  entire  bone) ;  f ,  clav- 
icle; g.  presternum  (upper  part  of  sternum); 
i -2  =  sections  of  ribs. 


Sternum  of  Man  (much  reduced),  showing 
sections  of  ribs  on  one  side.  (After  Flower.) 

g,  Presternum  or  manubrium  sterni;  h, 
mesosternum,  body  of  sternum  or  gladiolus; 
i,  xiphisternum,  xiphoid  or  ensiform  process  of 
sternum;  j,  point  of  attachment  of  clavicle; 
1-10  =  sections  of  ribs. 


Side  view  of  skull  of  a  Wolf. 

a,  Interparietal;  b,  sagittal  crest;  c,  parietal;  d,  squamosal;  e,  occipital  condyle;  f,  meatus  audi- 
torius  externus;  g,  auditory  bulla;  h,  zygoma  or  zygomatic  arch;  i.  frontal;  j,  postorbital  process  of 
frontal;  k,  malar  or  jugal;  1,  postglenoid  process;  m,  pterygoid  process;  n,  infraorbital  foramen; 
o,  maxilla;  p,  premaxilla;  q,  incisors;  r,  canines;  s,  premolars;  si,  carnassiaf  or  sectorial  tooth; 
t,  molars;  ti,  carnassial  or  sectorial  tooth;  u,  mental  foramina ;v,  horizontal  ramus  of  mandible;  w,  as- 
cending ramus;  x,  coronoid  process;  y,  condyle  of  mandible;  z,  angular  process  of  mandible. 


12       FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 


Upper  view  of  skull  of  a  Wolf. 

a,  Interparietal;  b,  sagittal  crest;  c,  parietal;  d,  zygomatic  process  of  squamosal;  e,  nasal; 
h,  zygoma  or  zygomatic  arch;  i,  frontal;  j,  postorbital  process  of  frontal;  k,  malar  or  jugal  (the  post- 
orbital  process  of  the  jugal  is  shown  but  not  lettered) ;  o,  maxilla  or  maxillary  bone;  p,  premaxilla. 


Under  view  of  skull  of  a  Wolf. 

a,  Supraoccipital ;  b,  foramen  magnum;  c,  paraoccipital  process;  d,  zygomatic  process  of  squa- 
mosal; e,  occipital  condyle;  f,  mastoid  process;  g,  auditory  bulla;  h,  zygoma  or  zygomatic  arch; 
i,  basi-occipital ;  p,  postorbital  process  of  the  frontal  (the  corresponding  process  of  the  jugal  or  malar 
bone  opposite  to  it  is  known  as  the  postorbital  process  of  the  malar) ;  k,  malar  or  jugal;  1,  postglenoid 
process;  m,  pterygoid  process;  n,  presphenoid;  o,  palatine;  p,  premaxilla;  q,  incisors;  r,  anterior 
palatine  foramina;  s,  under  portions  of  maxillary  bones. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.          13 

The  Skull  —  The  skull  is  composed  of  a  number  of  bones  which,  with 
the  exception  of  the  lower  jaw,  are  immovably  joined  together. 
In  early  life  they  are  largely  connected  by  intervening  tissue,  which 
in  most  cases  becomes  ossified  later.  The  "cracks"  seen  in  a  skull 
where  the  bones  join  are  called  sutures.  *  Holes  and  openings 
are  called  foramina;  and  elongated  points  (processes),  ridges,  cavi- 
ties, etc.,  are  all  recognized  by  names  (see  illustrations,  pages  11-12). 
The  Teeth  —  Teeth  are  hard  formations  which  are  present  in  the  jaws 
of  most  mammals.  They  are  enderonic  structures,  which  develop 
from  odontoblasts  and  are  chiefly  composed  of  calcium  phosphate,  f 
The  greater  portion  of  a  tooth  is  made  up  of  what  is  called  dentine, 
having  a  cavity  in  the  center  containing  what  is  known  as  "pulp," 
a  soft  mass  of  connective  tissue  supplied  with  blood  vessels  and 
nerves.  The  exposed  outer  surface  of  the  tooth  is  covered  with  a 
thin  but  extremely  hard  layer  known  as  the  enamel.  From  a  sys- 
tematic standpoint  the  teeth  are  of  great  importance,  inasmuch  as 
their  various  well  defined  characters  furnish  differences  upon  which 
many  of  the  genera  and  species,  as  well  as  some  of  the  higher  orders, 
are  based.  The  majority  of  mammals  have  two  sets  of  teeth  | 
known  respectively  as  "milk  teeth"  and  permanent  teeth.  The 
former  are  the  temporary  teeth  of  the  young  and  are  later  replaced 
by  permanent  teeth.  In  mammals  which  have  both  milk  and 
permanent  teeth,  the  number  of  the  former  varies  greatly  in  different 
species,  ranging  from  a  single  tooth  on  the  side  of  each  jaw  (as  in 
the  Marsupials  and  some  Rodents)  to  the  greater  portion  of  the 
series.  In  some  cases  milk  teeth  are  present  but  are  not  functional, 
and  do  not  appear  above  the  gum.  Mammals  in  which  the  first 
teeth  are  permanent  are  called  Monophyodont,  while  those  which 
have  in  early  life  desiduous  teeth,  which  are  later  replaced  by 
permanent  teeth,  are  called  Diphyodont. 

Teeth  are  divided  into  four  groups  which  may  be  described  as 
follows : 
Incisors:    Teeth  with  cutting  edges  and  simple  roots,  which  are 

implanted  in  the  premaxillary  bone  in  the  center  or  front  of 

the  jaw. 
Canines:    Usually  four  in  number,  two  in  the  upper  jaw  and  two 

in  the  lower.§     They  are  situated  (when  present)  in  the  maxil- 

*  For  further  remarks  on  sutures,  see  page  37. 

t  The  Monotremes  furnish  an  exception,  the  teeth  of  the  Duck-bill  being  of 
horny  construction. 

I  The  Monotremes,  Toothed  Whales  and  most  of  the  Edentates  have  but  one. 

§  The  Shrews  apparently  have  two  canine  teeth  in  the  upper  jaw,  but  none  in 
the  lower. 


14      FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 


lary  bone  just  behind  the  premaxillary  suture,  or  what  might 

be  described  as  at  the  angle  of  the  front  of  the  jaw,  one  on  each 

side. 
Premolars:    Teeth  on  side  of  jaw  (maxillary  bone),  between  the 

canines  and  the  molars.     These  teeth  replace  the  milk  teeth  at 

an  early  age. 
Molars:    The  "back  teeth,"  situated  immediately  behind  the  pre- 

molars  on  side  of  jaw.     These  are  permanent  teeth  which  are 

not  represented  early  in  life  by  milk  teeth. 


Skull  of  a  Carnivore.  Skull  of  a  Rodent. 

(Canines  present.)  (Canines  absent.) 

n,  Incisor  teeth  or  incisors;  o,  canine  teeth;  p,  premolar  teeth;  r,  molar  teeth;  s,  upper  carnassial 
tooth;  t,  lower  carnassial  tooth. 

Certain  forms  of  teeth  are  given  special  names.  In  carnivorous 
mammals,  for  example,  the  anterior  molar  in  the  lower  jaw  and  the 
posterior  premolar  in  the  upper  are  larger  and  more  prominent  than 
the  others  and  are  known  as  the  carnassial  (or  sectorial)  teeth.  Those 
with  flattened  crowns,  from  which  points  or  tubercles  arise,  are  called 
tuberculate  teeth,  etc.  In  the  Insectivora  many  of  the  teeth  are  of  a 
generalized  type,  being  small,  single  pointed  and  showing  little  or  no 
difference  in  shape  and  are  known  collectively  as  unicuspid  teeth. 
Further  remarks  on  this  subject  are  unnecessary  here,  as  the  more 
important  dental  characters  are  treated  under  the  different  families 
and  genera. 

For  convenience  in  describing  the  dentition  the  following  formula 
has  been  adopted  by  zoologists : — 

I.  =incisors,  C.  =  canines,  Pm.  =premolars,  M.  =molars. 
The  dental  formula  of  the  Virginia  Opossum  would,  therefore,  read  as 
follows : 

c— c  I  — I  •?—  1  4  —  4. 

J  -5  r\  TV_-  «5          «2  TVyT         5 _t       =    CO, 

'  4- 


1. 


C. 


Pm. 


4-4  i-i  3-3  4-4 

the   numbers  above  the  line  indicating  the  number  of  teeth  on   the 
upper  jaw,  and  those  below  the  line,  on  the  lower. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.          15 

Some  zoologists  still  further  abbreviate  the  formula,  giving  only  one 
side  of  the  jaw,  as  the  number  of  teeth  on  both  sides  are  supposed  to  be 
alike,  thus: 

I-   *•>   C.  -•    Pm.  ->    M.  -  X2  =  5o. 
4  i  34 

A  reference  to  a  single  tooth  is  often  written  as  follows:  (Pm.  i) 
and  would  mean  the  first  upper  premolar,  or  (Pm.  2),  which  would  refer 
to  the  second  lower  premolar. 

The  variation  in  the  number  of  teeth  in  different  mammals  is  very 
great.  The  Anteaters  (Myrmecophagida)  have  no  teeth;  the  Narwhal, 
for  example,  may  be  said  to  have  but  one,  although  there  is  another  in 
a  rudimentary  state  imbedded  in  the  upper  jaw.  Some  Rodents  have 
12,  others  20;  Sloths  have  18;  Rabbits  28;  Man  32;  the  Armadillo  98; 
and  the  Dolphin  more  than  100.  There  is  also  an  extraordinary 
difference  in  size  and  shape  as,  for  example,  the  tusks  of  the  Elephant 
and  the  enormously  developed  tusk  or  "horn"  of  the  male  Narwhal. 

The  Vertebral  Column,  Spinal  Column  or  " Back-bone,"  consists  of  a 
number  of  bones  connected  by  cartilages.  It  is  generally  considered 
as  divided  into  five  regions  known  as  the  cervical  (neck);  dorsal 
(back),  which  supports  the  ribs;  lumbar  (small  of  the  back);  sacral 
(between  the  lumbar  and  caudal),  consisting  of  several  vertebrae 
fused  together  and  supported  by  the  pelvic  girdles;  and  the  caudal 
or  bones  of  the  tail  (see  illustration,  p.  10.).  The  number  of  verte- 
bra? varies  greatly  in  different  mammals.  For  example,  while  in 
Man  the  caudal  vertebras  consist  of  but  three  more  or  less  rudi- 
mentary bones,  the  tail  of  the  African  Scaly  Anteater  (Manis)  has 
46. 

The  Pelvis  is  the  bony  framework  formed  by  the  pelvic  girdles  or  hip 
bones  and  including  the  sacral  vertebrae. 

The  Ribs  —  The  number  of  ribs  varies  in  different  mammals.  They 
are  curved  bones  which  are  movably  articulated  with  the  dorsal 
vertebrae,  and  the  upper  ones  are  attached  to  the  sternum  with  a 
„  cartilage  which  becomes  ossified  in  but  few  forms.  The  lower  ribs, 
which  are  not  directly  attached  to  the  sternum,  are  called  "floating 
ribs." 

The  Sternum  or  Breast-bone  is  a  bone,  or  series  of  bones  (sternebrce) , 
connected  on  each  side  by  cartilage  with  the  ribs.  In  most  cases 
these  connections  remain  cartilaginous  during  life,  ossification 
occurring  in  but  few  cases.  The  sections  of  the  sternum  vary  in 
character  and  number.  The  upper  part  is  called  the  presternum,  or 
manubrium  sterni  of  human  anatomy ;  the  sections  below  this  (except 


16      FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 

the  terminal  part)  are  collectively  known  as  mesosternum,  while  the 
lower  end  is  called  xiphisternum,  xiphoid,  or  ensiform  process  of  the 
sternum  (see  chart,  p.  n).  The  presternum  is  often  "keeled," 
having  a  ridge  along  the  middle  line  below,  noticeably  in  the  Bats, 
which  like  the  birds  require  support  for  a  large  pectoral  muscle  as 
an  aid  to  flight. 

Scapula,  generally  a  broad,  flat  bone  commonly  called  the  "shoulder 
blade,"  which  is  present  in  all  mammals.  It  has  a  median  ridge  on 
the  outer  surface  which  is  called  the  "spine,"  the  projecting  end  of 
which  is  known  as  the  acromion  process. 

Clavicle  or  collar  bone  in  Man  articulates  with  the  upper  border  of  the 
sternum  and  the  acromion  process  of  the  scapula.  It  is  present 
and  complete  in  some  mammals,  such  as  Primates  (Man,  Monkeys, 
Apes,  etc.),  Bats,  Insectivores,  and  others;  and  appears  in  rudi- 
mentary form  in  others,  such  as  most  of  the  Carnivores,  some 
Rodents,  etc.,  but  it  is  absent  in  Whales,  Seals,  Ungulates,  some  of 
the  Bears,  some  Rodents,  and  others. 

The  Limbs  and  Feet  —  All  mammals,  with  the  exception  of  some  of  the 
aquatic  species  such  as  Whales,  Manatees,  etc.,  have  four  limbs  and 
for  this  reason  are  often  called  Quadrupeds.  In  the  fore  limbs  the 
bone  of  the  upper  arm  is  called  the  humerus;  the  lower  part  of  the 
arm  or  "fore  arm"  has  two  bones,  the  radius  and  ulna.  The  wrist 
or  carpal  joint  consists  of  several  bones,  usually  5  to  8,  known  as  the 
bones  of  the  carpus.  The  bones  of  the  hand  are  designated  as 
metacarpals  and  those  of  the  fingers,  phalanges. 

As  has  already  been  stated,  the  hind  limbs  are  lacking  in  aquatic 
,  species,  such  as  the  Whales  and  Manatees.  In  the  former  even  the 
pelvis  is  rudimentary  and  is  represented  by  two  small  detached 
bones  not  connected  with  the  skeleton.  The  bones  of  the  hind 
limbs  are:  Thigh,  femur;  lower  leg  bones,  tibia  and  fibula;  ankle  joint, 
bones  of  the  tarsus;  bones  of  the  foot,  metatarsals;  and  toes,  phalanges. 
The  variation  in  the  character  and  shape  of  the  limbs  and  feet 
is  very  great,  as  illustrated  by  the  "flippers"  of  a  Seal,  the  feet  of  a 
Horse  or  those  of  a  Lion,  Deer,  Sloth,  Monkey,  Mole,  etc.  In 
some  species  practically  the  whole  sole  of  the  foot  touches  the 
ground  in  walking;  these  are  known  as  plantigrade.  Others  walk 
on  their  toes  and  are  called  digitigrade*  In  the  Horse,  for  example, 
the  true  heel  is  elevated  a  foot  or  more  from  the  ground. 

In  nearly  all  mammals  f  the  terminal  extremities  of  the  digits  are 
protected  by  hard  epidermal  structures  in  the  form  of  claws,  nails,  and 

*  Intermediate  types  are  often  termed  semi-plantigrade,  unguligrade,  etc. 
f  Absent  in  the  Whales,  but  rudiments  have  been  found  in  the  fostus. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.          17 


Hind  foot  of  Wolf. 


Hind  foot  of  Rabbit. 


Bear. 

Plantigrade  type  of  foot. 

(Practically  whole  sole  of  foot 

touching  the  ground.) 


Fore  foot  of  Horse. 


Hind  foot  of  Deer. 


Fore  foot  of  Mole 


Hind  foot  of  Opossum. 


Panther.  Horse. 

Digitigrade  type  of  foot. 
(Only  toes  touching  the  ground.) 


Deer. 


hoofs,  which  have  been  developed  by  modification  and  thickening 
of  the  cuticle.  The  number  of  digits  normally  vary  from  i  to  5  in 
different  animals.  In  the  Deer  the  first  is  absent,  the  3d  and  4th 
support  functional  hoofs,  and  the  2d  and  5th  appear  as  small,  eleva- 
ted lateral  hoofs  or  "false  hoofs."  In  the  Horse  the  foot, structure 
consists  of  a  single  digit  (the  3d),  the  others  having  been  lost.* 

ANATOMICAL  AND  PHYSIOLOGICAL  CHARACTERS  IN 

GENERAL. 

Having  gained  some  slight  knowledge  of  the  bony  framework,  it  is 
essential  that  the  student  should  know  something  more  about  their 

*  Palaeontologists  have  been  able  to  trace  the  evolution  of  the  foot  of  the  Horse 
from  its  four-toed  Eocene  ancestor,  showing  the  gradual  lessening  in  the  number  of 
digits.  Prof.  Cope  believed  the  five- toed  Coryphodon  to  represent  a 'group,  from 
which  all  Ungulates  have  sprung. 


i8      FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

external  and  internal  structure  before  proceeding  to  take  up  the  study 
of  the  living  mammals.  It  is  obvious  that  adequate  treatment  of  such 
a  great  subject  as  mammalian  anatomy  would  be  impossible  in  any  such 
condensed  form  as  would  be  necessary,  if  attempted  here.  I  shall, 
therefore,  confine  myself  to  brief  remarks  (which  are  intended  for  the 
use  of  beginners  only)  concerning  those  pa'rts  which  will  be  referred  to 
later  in  connection  with  the  descriptions  of  the  families  and  genera 
included  in  this  work. 

TEGUMENTARY   STRUCTURES. 

Hoofs,  Claws  and  Nails  —  These  are  hard,  horny  modifications  of  the 
epidermis,*  and  with  few  exceptions  (Cete)  are  present  on  the. 
terminal  extremities  of  the  digits.  They  vary  greatly  in  character, 
but  it  is  unnecessary  to  discuss  them  here,  as  the  differences  in  the 
various  species  which  occur  within  our  limits  are  described  later. 

Hair  —  A  hair  may  be  considered  as  an  outgrowth  of  the  epidermis, 
elongated  and  generally  cylindrical  in  shape,  and  extends  from  a 
papilla  at  the  bottom  of  a  follicle  in  the  true  skin,*  but  in  some  cases 
it  is  flattened  and  not  round,  as  illustrated  in  the  curly  haired  races 
of  Men,  a  few  of  the  Rodents  and  some  others.  With  few  exceptions 
the  outer  surface  is  hard  and  the  inner  portion  cellular,  surrounded  by 
a  cortex,  the  latter  containing  the  color  pigment,  and  is  covered 
by  a  cuticle  which  may  be  smooth  or  rough  and  squamate.  In  some 
species  of  Bats  (Molossidee)  for  example,  the  hair  when  viewed  under 
a  powerful  microscope  shows  rings  or  zones  of  verticulate  spinules ; 
while  in  our  species,  belonging  to  the  family  Vespertilionidce,  the 
spinules  are  arranged  in  a  continuous  spiral,  or  in  imbricated  trian- 
gles and  often  in  various  other  patterns  (see  illustration,  p.  446). 
Hairs  vary  enormously  in  size  and  degree  of  rigidity  in  different 
mammals;  as  take  for  examples  the  soft  fur  of  the  Mole,  the  bristles 
of  the  Pig,  and  the  spines  or  quills  of  the  Porcupine,  all  of  which 
are  merely  modified  forms  of  the  same  structural  growth;  and  it  is 
probable  that  a  still  further  modification  has  developed  the  horns 
of  the  Rhinoceros.  In  color  the  various  shades  of  brown  predomi- 
nate. Bright  colors  are  the  exception  and  when  present  are  mostly 
confined  to  orange  and  red,  as  illustrated  in  some  South  American 
Squirrels  and  other  exotic  forms.  Usually  animals  of  the  same 
species  are  uniformly  colored,  but  occasionally  an  excess  of  pig- 
mentation results  in  a  black  (melanistic)  individual,  or  an  absence 
of  color  pigment  produces  a  white  (albinistic)  one,  which  should 
normally  be  of  some  other  color.  Comparatively  few  mammals  are 
*For  definition  see  Glossary,  p.  489. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.          19 

naturally  white,  and  these  are  largely  restricted  to  boreal  species, 
although  there  are  a  number  of  exceptions  including  a  white  Bat 
which  occurs  in  South  America.  While  in  some  cases,  such  as  the 
tail  of  a  Horse,  the  hairs  appear  to  be  permanent,  as  a  rule  they  are 
periodically  shed  and  replaced  by  a  new  growth.  In  the  majority 
of  mammals  the  color  of  the  new  hair  differs  but  little  and  the 
change  in  appearance  of  the  animal  is  comparatively  slight;  but  in 
some  species,  like  our  Weasels  and  Varying  Hare,  there  is  a  complete 
semiannual  change  of  color  in  some  localities.  In  some  mammals 
the  long  bristley  hairs  or  vibrissa  (commonly  called  whiskers) ,  which 
extend  from  the  side  of  the  face,  are  connected  with  exceedingly 
sensitive  nerves  and  perform  a  sensory  function.  These,  however, 
will  be  referred  to  again  under  the  organs  of  sense. 
Odor-secreting  Glands  —  In  many  mammals  there  are  present  integu- 
mental  glands  located  in  various  parts  of  the  body,  the  secretions  of 
which  serve  to  attract  others  of  their  kind,  and  in  a  number  of  cases 
their  functions  seem  to  be  two-fold,  as  they  furnish  a  means  of 
defense  against  their  enemies  as  well.  The  Skunk  may  be  cited  as 
one  of  the  best  known  examples  of  the  latter  class,  on  account  of  its 
well-known  ability  to  eject  by  muscular  contraction,  a  noxious 
smelling  liquid  for  a  considerable  distance.  In  a  large  number  of 
mammals  possessing  glands  of  this  character  the  secretions  are 
characterized  by  their  musky  odor  and  are  variable  in  intensity, 
many  of  them  being  comparatively  inoffensive.  In  some  cases 
these  glands  are  developed  in  the  male  only,  but  in  others  they  are 
present  in  both  sexes. 

As  illustrating  the  diversity  of  location  of  this  group  of  structures 
in  various  species,  we  may  mention  the  anal  glands  of  various 
Carnivores,  such  as  the  Skunks,  Wolverines,  etc.,  the  preputial 
glands  of  the  Musk  Deer  and  Beaver,  dorsal  glands  of  the  Peccary, 
foot  gland  of  the  Rhinoceros,  and  those  between  the  toes  of  many 
of  the  Ruminants,  the  suborbital  glands  of  the  Antelope,  temporal 
gland  of  the  Elephant,  caudal  gland  of  the  Dog,  Fox,  etc.,  and  the 
variously  situated  glands  of  Bats,  Shrews,  Mice,  and  many  others. 

CIRCULATORY  AND  DIGESTIVE  SYSTEMS. 
The  body  cavity  of  a  mammal  is  divided  into  two  sections  separated 
by  a  muscular  diaphragm.  The  upper  or  plural  cavity  contains  the 
heart  and  lungs,  while  the  lower  or  peritoneal  cavity  contains  the 
stomach,  intestines,  liver,  etc.  Of  these  organs  I  shall  briefly  discuss 
those  which  will  be  referred  to  later  in  connection  with  the  various 
families  included  in  this  work. 


20      FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 


Ideal  section  of  a  Mammal. 

a,  Olfactory  nerves;  b,  optic  nerve;  c,  brain;  d,  ear  conch  or  pinna;  e,  epiglottis;  f,  oesophagus;  g, 
thyroid  glands;  h,  vertebral  column  or  back-bone;  i,  spinal  cord;  j,  trachea;  k,  lungs;  1,  heart;  m, 
diaphram;  n,  liver;  o,  pancreas;  p,  stomach;  q,  spleen;  r,  kidney;  s,  intestines;  t,  bladder;  u,  scrotum 
and  testes;  v,  anus.  (After  Owen.) 


The  Heart  —  The  heart  in  all  mammals  is  divided  into  four  chambers 
known  as  auricles  and  ventricles,  but  the  shape  is  more  or  less 
variable  in  different  forms.  Each  auricle  communicates  with  the 
ventricle  of  the  same  side,  the  opening  being  provided  with  valves 
which  permit  the  blood  to  pass  only  in  the  right  direction,  viz.,  from 
the  auricle  to  the  ventricle.  Briefly  stated,  the  circulation  of  the 
blood  is  accomplished  as  follows:  It  enters  the  right  auricle,  which 
is  supplied  by  means  of  the  venae  cavae,  and  thence  to  the  ventricle 
of  the  same  side,  from  whence  it  is  forced  into  the  lungs  through 
the  pulmonary  artery  and  there  absorbs  the  necessary  oxygen  and 
is  relieved  of  carbon  dioxide.  From  the  lungs  by  means  of  the 
pulmonary  veins  it  enters  the  left  auricle  and  passes  through  the 
left  ventricle  into  the  aorta,  passing  out  again  through  the  large 
arteries  (such  as  the  "carotid"  and  "brachial"),  which  arise  from 
it,  and  thence  into  the  general  system,  where,  after  passing  through 
the  capillaries,  it  is  conducted  by  a  diversity  of  veins  to  the  large 
superior  and  inferior  venae  cavas  and  thence  back  again  to  the  right 
auricle. 

There  is  considerable  variation  in  mammals  in  the  mode  in 
which  different  arteries  arise  from  the  aorta.  In  most  cases  the 
right  brachial  and  right  carotid  have  a  common  origin  known  as 
the  innominate  artery  in  human  anatomy.  The  other  two  may 
extend  from  this,  as  in  the  Ungulates,  or  may  arise  separately  from 
the  aorta,  as  in  Man,  or  as  is  common  in  many  species,  the  left 
carotid  may  arise  from  the  "innominate"  and  the  left  brachial 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.         21 

6-.J* 


13 


3. 

mOIlHrV    VC1I15,     O,    llgLlb   auili~ic,    y,    ItiL^iii-'i     vv^nu  v,€»vc»,     A 

cle;  13  aorta;  14,  innominate  artery.     (After  Tenney.) 

directly  from  the  aorta,  or  again  there  may  be  a  right  and  left 
"innominate,"  from  which  arise  the  respective  carotid  and  brachial 
arteries,  as  in  some  of  the  Bats  and  Insectivores.  The  circulatory 
system  is  much  further  diversified  in  many  other  mammals,  but 
enough  has  been  said  regarding  the  subject. 

The  Lungs  —  The  lungs  of  a  mammal  differ  from  those  of  the  lower 
vertebrates  by  being  separated  from  the  abdominal  cavity  by  a 
diaphragm.  They  are  spongy  masses  made  up  of  numerous  air  pass- 
ages and  cells  surrounded  by  a  capillary  network  in  which  the  blood, 
in  passing  through  the  lungs,  absorbs  oxygen,  at  the  same  time 
giving  off  carbon  dioxide.  In  terrestrial  forms  they  are  more  or  less 
extensively  lobated  in  form  and  are  often  not  symmetrical,  the  num- 
ber of  lobes  differing  in  the  two  lungs  of  the  same  animal. 

Blood  —  The  blood  of  mammals  is  red  and  warm,  varying  in  tempera- 
ture in  different  species  under  normal  conditions  from  a  few  degrees 
below  to  a  few  degrees  above  100°  Fahr.  The  corpuscles  are  of  two 
kinds:  the  colored  non-nucleated  flattened  disks,  having  a  circular 
outline*;  and  the  less  numerous  "white  corpuscles,"  which  are  color- 
less and  nucleated.  The  size  of  the  red  non-nucleating  blood  cor- 
puscles varies  in  different  mammals,  and  this  fact  is  often  of  im- 
portance in  criminal  trials  as  an  aid  in  identifying  human  blood ;  but 
in  such  cases,  while  it  is  very  often  possible  to  determine  that  the 
blood  in  question  is  not  human,  by  this  test  alone,  it  is  not  always 
possible  to  be  absolutely  certain  that  it  is.  For  example,  the  diam- 
eters of  the  circular  blood  corpuscles  in  species  of  Deer  range  from 
Woo  to  i^Sffo  of  an  inch;  those  of  domestic  Sheep  are  Woo;  of  the 
Horse  T«'O  o ;  while  in  Man  they  usually  measure  from  about  3  o'o  o  to 
:{ A  o ,  but  occasionally  they  are  smaller,  cases  having  been  recorded 

*  Exceptions  to  this  are  found  in  the  Camels,  Llamas,  and  a  few  others,  in  which 
they  are  elliptical  in  outline,  as  in  most  of  the  lower  vertebrates. 


22       FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 

where  in  Man  they  measured  only  Wo  o  and  even  less.  Under  such 
conditions  an  expert  depending  upon  size  alone  *  could  not  readily 
distinguish  them  from  those  of  a  Dog,  or  an  Ape.  The  following 
measurements  of  red  corpuscles  of  various  mammals  are  selected 
from  those  given  by  Prof.  G.  Gulliver  (Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  Lond.,  1845, 
p.  96;  Ib.,  1862,  p.  102):  Elephant  W-IT,  Man  Woo,  Ape  Wr?, 
Beaver  Wss,  Wolf  Woo-,  Tiger  TsVe,  Bat  TuW,  Horse  Woo,  Sheep 
Woo,  Red  Deer  Woo,  Musk  Deer  i^ooo. 

Stomach  and  Intestinal  Canal  —  The  passage  through  which  food  passes 
from  the  mouth  to  the  stomach  is  called  the  cesophagus,  and  in  the 
majority  of  mammals  the  stomach  consists  of  a  single  chamber, 
although  varying  somewhat  in  shape  in  different  species.  Sometimes 
it  is  divided  into  a  series  of  chambers,  as  in  the  Ruminants,  in 
which  group  the  stomach  contains  at  least  three  and  usually  four 
sections;  or  in  the  Cete,  where  the  number  varies  from  3  to  8. 


i,  Stomach  of  Mouse.  (After  Wiedersheim.)  2,  Common  type  of  alimentary  canal  in  many 
mammals.  1,  large  intestine;  s,  small  intestine  (much  abbreviated) ;  c,  ccecum;  r,  rectum;  o,  oesophagus. 
(After  Flower  and  Lydekker.)  3,  Portion  of  intestine,  showing  ccecum,  of  Proboscidion  Shrew,  c, 
ccecum.  (After  Owen.)  4,  Common  type  of  ccecum  in  Man.  c,  ccecum;  v,  vermiform  appendix. 
(After  Gray.) 

At  the  lower  end  of  the  stomach  is  what  is  called  the  pylorus, 
where  it  joins  the  small  intestine,  which  in  turn  continues  to  the 
large  intestine  or  colon  which  ultimately  ends  at  the  rectum.  At 
the  juncture  of  the  large  and  small  intestines  there  is  usually  a 
blind  sac  or  pouch,  known  as  the  caput  c&cum  coli,  but  which  has 
popularly  been  abbreviated  into  "c&cum"  (see  illustration).  This 
organ  varies  greatly  in  different  mammals.  In  some  species  it  is 
merely  a  slight  bulge  or  apparently  absent,  while  in  others  it  is 
largely  developed.  Ruminant  animals  have  large  csecae,  but  in  the 
Cat  tribe  it  is  but  slightly  indicated.  The  Phalanger,  Trichosurus 
vulpecula,  has  a  caecum  fully  one-fifth  as  long  as  the  small  intestine. 
In  Man  the  caecum  is  present  in  the  form  of  a  sac  two  or  three 

*  The  serological  test  (based  upon  the  chemical  character  of  the  blood  serum)  is 
of  value  in  most  diagnoses,  but  cannot  be  depended  upon  to  distinguish  the  blood 
of  Man  from  that  of  some  of  the  higher  Apes. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.          23 


Plan  of  inferior  surface  of  multilobed 
liver  of  a  mammal.  (From  Flower  and 
Lydekker.) 


inches  in  length  and  slightly  more  in  breadth,  and  extending  from  it 
is  what  is -known  as  the  vermiform  appendix,  a  narrow  worm-like 
tube  which  is,  so  far  as  known,  found  only  in  Man,  the  higher  Apes 
and  the  Wombat. 

The  Liver  —  This  organ  is  situated  on  the  right  side  of  the  abdominal 
cavity,  and  is  usually  divided  into  a  right  and  left  half,  being  again 

subdivided  by  deep  clefts  into  lobes 
in  different  mammals.  As  a  rule, 
these  divisions  are  more  numerous  in 
carnivorous  animals  than  in  vege- 
table feeders.  The  gall  bladder  is 
present  in  some  species  and  absent 
in  others. 

Urinary  Organs  —  The  kidneys  in  most 
mammals  are  compact,  oval-shaped 
organs,  having  a  depression  at  the 
border  where  the  ducts  enter;  but  in 
a  few  cases  they  are  lobate,  as  in  the 

Whales,  Seals,  Bears,  some  of  the  Ungulates,  and  a  few  others. 
They  are  situated  in  the  back  part  of  the  abdominal  cavity  behind    • 
the  peritoneum  and  opposite  the  upper  lumbar  vertebrae,  and  as  a 
rule  one  of  them  lies  in  a  more  advanced  position  than  the  other. 
The  ureters  connect  the  kidneys  with  the  urinary  bladder  and  open 
directly  into  it  in  the  higher  Mammalia,  but  lower  down  into  the 
urino-genital  passage  in  the  lower  members  of  the  class. 
Reproductive  Organs  —  Lengthy  discussion  of  this  group  of  organs  is 
unnecessary  here,  and  will  be  confined  to  a  few  general  statements 
concerning  them. 

In  all  mammals  a  penis  is  present  and  almost  always  completely 
developed  in  the  male.  In  the  Ferae,  Glires,  Insectivora,  Chiroptera, 
and  all  except  a  few  of  the  higher  Primates,  an  os  penis  is  present, 
but  is  lacking  in  the  other  orders.  The  testes  of  the  male  in  the 
majority  of  cases  pass  out  of  the  abdominal  cavity  either  periodically 
(as  in  Insectivora,  Chiroptera  and  Glires),  or  permanently,  as  in 
most  other  mammals,  and  in  the  latter  case,  are  suspended  in  a 
pouch  or  scrotum.  In  the  Marsupials  the  testes  are  suspended  in 
front  of  the  penis. 

In  the  Whales,  Seals,  Elephants,  Monotremes,  most  of  the 
Edentates,  and  several  others,  they  retain  their  internal  position 
throughout  life.  • 

In  all  mammals,  except  the  Monotremes  and  most  of  the  Mar- 
supials, a  placenta  is  formed  by  a  union  of  the  ajantois  with  the\l) 


24       FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 

membranes  of  the  uterus,  and  through  this  placenta  the  embryo  is 
nourished. 

In  all  female  mammals,  except  the  Monotremes,  the  intestinal 
and  genital  openings  are  separate,  but  in  the  latter  they  open  into 
the  cloaca,  as  in  birds. 

Mammary  Glands  —  These  glands  secrete  milk  by  which  the  young  are 
nourished  and  are  present  in  both  sexes  in  all  mammals,  but  are 
usually  only  functional  in  the  female. 

In  all  except  the  Monotremes  their  orifices  are  situated  upon  the 
end  of  conical  elevations  called  mammilce,  or  teats,  which  are  taken 
into  the  mouth  of  the  young  animal.  In  the  Whales  the  glands  are 
unusually  developed  and  a  quantity  of  milk  is  injected  into  the 
mouth  of  the  young  by  muscular  contraction.  In  the  Monotremes 
the  teats  are  lacking,  the  ducts  of  the  mammary  glands  opening 
through  pore-like  orifices  in  the  skin.  In  addition  to  a  number  of 
other  peculiar  characters,  these  strange  mammals  are  claimed  to  be 
oviparous,  the  eggs  resembling  in  development  those  of  a  reptile. 

NERVOUS   SYSTEM   AND   ORGANS   OF   SENSE. 

The  Brain  —  The  brain  is  contained  in  the  cavity  of  the  skull.  The 
greater  portion  is  called  the  cerebrum;  a  much  smaller  portion  at  the 
back  of  the  skull  cavity  is  known  as  the  cerebellum;  and  the  com- 
mencement of  the  spinal  marrow,  as  the  medulla  oblongata.  The 
brain  of  a  mammal  differs  from  that  of  other  vertebrates  in  having 
the  two  hemispheres  of  the  cerebellum  united  by  a  commissure  (pons 
varolii)  and  the  cerebral  hemispheres  more  or  less  connected  by  an 
anterior  and  a  superior  transverse  commissure,  the  corpus  collosum 
of  anatomical  text  books.  In  most  mammals  the  brain  is  more  or 
less  convoluted,  highly  so  in  Man,  varying  in  degree  in  many,  or  not 
at  all  as  in  some  of  the  Marmosets  (Hapale). 

Spinal  Cord  —  The  main  nerve  axis  of  the  body  passing  through  the 
vertebrae  from 'head  to  tail,  but  which  it  is  unnecessary  to  discuss 
here. 

The  Sense  of  Touch  —  An  increased  supply  of  nerves  and  blood-vessels 
to  a  part  of  the  skin  renders  it  more  sensitive  and  susceptible  to 
what  is  called  the  sense  of  touch.  Dermal  susceptibility  for  this 
reason  differs  in  various  parts  of  the  body.  For  example,  in  Man 
the  ends  of  the  fingers,  from  being  supplied  abundantly  with  pencil- 
late  plexuses  of  nerves,  are  much  more  sensitive  than  portions  of  the 
arm  or  back.  The  lips  and  tongue  are  still  more  so,  the  latter 
usually  being  capable  of  distinguishing  distinct  sensations  when 
touched  by  the  points  of  a  pair  of  dividers  when  separated  only  ^V 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.          25 

of  an  inch.  On  the  shoulder,  however,  unless  the  points  are  more 
than  %  of  an  inch  apart,  they  cannot  be  distinguished;  and  portions 
of  the  back  are  so  insensitive  as  to  require  the  points  to  be  separated 
as  much  as  2  inches  to  give  the  impression  of  more  than  a  single 
point  of  contact.  Many  mammals  are  provided  with  long  hairs  or 
bristles  in  more  or  less  specialized  regions,  such  as  eyebrows,  cheeks 
and  lips,  which  are  connected  by  their  basal  papillae  with  sensory 
nerve  filaments  and  on  which  the  sense  of  touch  is  very  highly  devel- 
oped. The  whiskers  (vibHssa)  of  the  common  House  Cat  belong  to 
this  category.  In  Bats  the  wing  membrane  is  well  supplied  with 
nerves  and  is  so  sensitive  as  to  enable  the  animals  to  avoid  objects 
in  their  flight. 

The  Sense  of  Sight  —  While  eyes  are  present  in  all  mammals,  in  some, 
like  the  Moles,  they  are  small  and  practically  rudimentary,  in  a  few 
cases  being  covered  by  the  skin;  but  the  sense  of  sight  is  highly  devel- 
oped in  the  majority  of  the  class.  There  is  considerable  variation 
in  the  color  and  shape  of  the  eye  in  different  species,  and  the  pupil 
varies  from  circular  to  elliptical.  In  many  mammals  there  is  a 
modification  of  the  choroid  known  as  the  tapetum  lucidum,  which  is 
a  membrane  exhibiting  green  and  blue  reflections,  and  which  is 
the  cause  of  the  striking  appearance  of  the  eyes  of  many  animals 
in  the  dark.  In  some  of  the  smaller  Cats  the  pupil  contracts 
to  a  vertical  slit,  while  in  the  larger  felines  it  remains  cir- 
cular. In  most  of  the  mammals  the  eye  is  protected  by  an  upper 
and  a  lower  lid  which  close  over  the  front,  meeting  in  a  nearly 
horizontal  slit.  In  the  Sirenia,  however,  the  lids  are  not  distinct 
and  the  aperture  is  circular,  drawing  together  at  a  central  point. 
In  the  eyes  of  all  mammals  excepting  those  of  the  Primates  and  the 
Cete,  a  third  eyelid  is  present  called  a  nictitating  membrane,  which 
is  placed  at  the  inner  corner  of  the  eye  and  passes  horizontally  over 
the  eyeball  under  the  true  eyelids.  This  is  apparently  for  the  pur- 
pose of  cleaning  the  cornea  and  is  represented  in  a  rudimentary 
form  in  Man  and  other  Primates  in  the  shape  of  the  so-called  semi- 
lunar  fold  at  the  inner  angle  of  the  eye.  In  all  mammals  excepting 
some  of  the  aquatic  species,  the  eye  is  kept  moist  by  the  secretions 
of  the  lachrymal  gland  situated  in  the  upper  lid  at  the  outer  side. 
In  Man,  in  whom  the  gland  is  highly  developed,  this  secretion  is 
most  susceptible  of  being  secreted  to  excess  and  a  consequent  over- 
flow in  the  shape  of  tears.  The  eyelids  are  lubricated  by  other 
glands.  In  some  mammals,  like  the  Hares  and  Jerboas,  the  eyes  are 
large  and  prominent,  and  from  their  lateral  position  it  is  claimed 
they  are  susceptible  of  perceiving  the  image  of  a  pursuer. 


26      FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

The  Sense  of  Smell  —  The  sense  of  smell  is  present  in  all  mammals,  with 
the  possible  exception  of  the  Toothed  Whales.  Branches  of  the 
olfactory  nerves  are  present  in  the  upper  portion  of  the  nasal  pass- 
age, which  come  in  contact  with  any  odorous  particles  contained 
in  the  air  and  which  enter  the  nose.  In  many  species  this  sense 
is  developed  to  a  most  extraordinary  degree,  warning  them  of 
the  approach  of  other  animals  at  a  surprisingly  long  distance. 
Trappers  have  learned  by  experience  that,  if  a  trap  is  touched 
with  the  bare  hand,  many  species  will  not  approach  it  for  at 
least  24  hours. 

The  Sense  of  Hearing  —  The  organ  of  hearing  is  present  in  all  mammals, 
but,  as  would  be  expected,  is  developed  in  some  much  more  highly 
than  in  others.  It  is  divisible  into  three  parts:  i,  external  ear  or 
pinna  arid  the  auditory  canal  or  meatus;  2,  the  middle  ear  or  tym- 
panum; 3,  the  internal  ear  or  labyrinth.  The  pinna  is  present  in 
most  mammals  and  is  generally  movably  articulated  to  the  skull, 
and  by  muscular  attachment  enables  the  animal  to  turn  it  in  the 
proper  direction  to  aid  in  collecting  and  directing  the  vibration  of 
sound  into  the  meatus.  While  these  ear  muscles  are  present  in  the 
ear  of  Man,  from  long  disuse  they  are  no  longer  functional  except 
in  rare  cases.  The  middle  ear,  drum  of  the  ear,  or  tympanum,  as  it 
is  variously  called,  which  forms  the  outer  wall  of  the  cavity,  is 
traversed  by  a  chain  of  three  or  four  movable  small  bones,  three  of 
which  are  always  present  and  are  known,  respectively,  as  malleus, 
incus,  and  stapes.  These  bones  are.  variable  in  size  and  character 
in  different  mammals,  especially  in  aquatic  species.  The  malleus 
in  mammalian  anatomy  represents  the  quadrate  bone  of  the  lower 
orders,  which  there  connects  the  lower  jaw  with  the  skull.  The 
internal  ear,  or  labyrinth  as  it  is  called,  consists  of  three  semi-circular 
canals,  a  vestibule  and  a  cochlea.  Here  again  is  found,  with  the 
exception  of  the  Monotremes,  a  distinct  mammalian  character  in 
the  spiral  convolutions  of  the  cochlea.  By  the  vibrations  of  the 
tympanic  mem  brane  (produced  by  sound  waves)  and  the  small 
bones,  the  vibrations  of  sound  are  transmitted  from  the  exterior  to 
the  fluid  filling  the  internal  ear  and  are  appreciated  by  the  end 
filaments  of  the  auditory  nerve,  thus  enabling  the  animal  to  hear. 

The  Sense  of  Taste  —  The  sense  of  taste  concerns  us  little  here  and 
will  be  dismissed  with  the  brief  statement  that  it  is  chiefly  located 
in  the  papillae  on  the  dorsal  surface  of  the  tongue,  although 
similar  papillae  are  present  in  other  parts  of  the  mouth,  such  as 
the  soft  palate,  epiglottis,  etc.  These  papillas  are  each  furnished 
with  a  branch  of  the  glossopharyngeal  nerve. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.          27 

TAXONOMY  AND   CLASSIFICATION. 

Taxonomy  as  applied  to  zoology  is  the  science  of  arranging  animals 
in  what  is  deduced  from  study  of  their  morphological  characters  to  be 
their  natural  order  or  sequence  and  from  which  a  system  of  classification 
has  been  evolved.  The  necessity  of  some  such  an  arrangement  is  suffi- 
ciently obvious  as  to  hardly  require  explanation,  but  I  will  quote  the 
words  of  Prof.  Huxley  in  this  connection,  who  says:* 

"It  is  possible  and  conceivable  that  every  animal  should  have  been 
constructed  upon  a  plan  of  its  own,  having  no  resemblance  whatever  to 
the  plan  of  any  other  animal.  For  any  reason  we  can  discover  to  the 
contrary,  that  combination  of  natural  forces  which  we  term  Life  might 
have  resulted  from,  or  been  manifested  by,  a  series  of  infinitely  diverse 
structures,  nor  would  anything  in  the  nature  of  the  case  lead  us  to  sus- 
pect a  community  of  organization  between  animals  so  different  in  habit 
and  in  appearance  as  a  porpoise  and  a  gazelle,  an  eagle  and  a  crocodile, 
or  a  butterfly  and  a  lobster.  Had  animals  been  thus  independently 
organized,  each  working  out  its  life  by  a  mechanism  peculiar  to  itself, 
such  a  classification  as  that  now  under  contemplation  would  be  obvious- 
ly impossible;  a  morphological  or  structural  classification  plainly  im- 
plying morphological  or  structural  resemblances  in  the  things  classified. 
As  a  matter  of  fact,  however,  no  such  mutual  independence  of  animal 
forms  exists  in  nature.  On  the  contrary,  the  members  of  the  animal 
kingdom,  from  the  highest  to  the  lowest,  are  marvellously  connected. 
Every  animal  has  something  in  common  with  all  its  fellows;  much,  with 
many  of  them;  more,  with  a  few,  and  usually  so  much  with  several,  that 
it  differs  but  little  from  them. 

"  Now  a  morphological  classification  is  a  statement  of  these  grada- 
tions of  likeness  which  are  observable  in  animal  structures,  and  its 
objects  and  uses  are  manifold.  In  the  first  place  it  strives  to  throw  our 
knowledge  of  the  facts  which  underlie,  and  are  the  cause  of,  the  similar- 
ities discerned,  into  the  fewest  possible  general  propositions,  subordinate 
to  one  another,  according  to  their  greater  or  less  degree  of  generality; 
and  in  this  way  it  answers  the  purpose  of  a  memoria  technica,  without 
which  the  mind  would  be  incompetent  to  grasp  and  retain  the  multi- 
farious details  of  anatomical  science.  But  there  is  a  second  and  even 
more  important  aspect  of  morphological  classification.  Every  group 
in  that  classification  is  such  in  virtue  of  certain  structural  characters, 
which  are  not  only  common  to  the  members  of  the  group,  but  distinguish 
it  from  all  others;  and  the  statements  of  these  constitute  the  definition, 
of  the  group." 

*  Huxley,  T.  H.    Introd.  Classif.  of  Animals,  London,  1869,  pp.  2-3. 


28      FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 

In  spite  of  the  continually  advancing  knowledge,  due  largely  to 
constant  discoveries  of  new  forms  both  living  and  extinct,  there  are  a 
great  many  links  missing  in  the  zoological  chain,  and  it  is  not  surprising 
that  systematists  are  not  entirely  in  accord  in  their  conclusions  and  that 
any  system  of  classification  at  present  evolved,  must  of  necessity  be 
more  or  less  tentative. 

Nearly  all  modern  zoologists  now  recognize  two  subclasses  of  living 
mammals:  I,  Prototheria,  comprising  a  single  Order,  Monotremata,  to 
which  belong  the  Spiny  Anteaters  (Echidnida]  and  Duck-bill  (Ornithor- 
hynchidce)  of  the  Australian  region  —  strange  egg-laying  animals  which 
differ  anatomically  in  many  ways  from  other  known  forms;  and  II, 
Eutheria,  which  includes  the  rest  of  the  Orders.  The  Metatheria,  con- 
taining the  Order  Marsupialia,  or  pouched  mammals,  such  as  the 
Kangaroos,  Opossums,  etc.,  was  at  one  time  given  rank  as  a  third  sub- 
class but  is  now  generally  included  with  Eutheria.*  The  subclasses 
and  orders  comprising  the  living  mammals  of  the  world  are  as  follows : 

KINGDOM  ANIMALIA.      ANIMALS. 

SUBKINGDOM  VERTEBRATA.     BACK-BONED  ANIMALS. 

CLASS  MAMMALIA.     MAMMALS. 

SUBCLASS  PROTOTHERIA. 

Order  MONOTREMATA.     Duck-bill  Platypus,  Echidnas. 

SUBCLASS  EUTHERIA. 

Order  MARSUPIALIA.  Marsupials  or  Pouched  Mammals. 
Suborder  Polyprotodontia.  Opossums,  Bandicoots,  etc. 
Suborder  Diprotodontia.  Kangaroos,  Wombats,  etc. 

Order  EDENTATA.     Sloths,  Armadillos,  etc. 

Suborder  Zenarthra.     Armadillos,  Sloths,  Anteaters,  etc. 
Suborder  Nomarthra.     Aard-varks  and  Scaly  Anteaters. 

Order  UNGULATA.     Hoofed  Mammals. 
Suborder  Proboscidea.     Elephants. 
Suborder  Hyracoidea.    Hyraxes. 

Suborder  Perissodactyla.    Horses,  Tapirs,  Rhinoceros,  etc. 
Suborder  Artiodactyla.     Pigs,  Cattle,    Sheep,  Antelopes,  Deer,  Giraffes, 
Camels,  Hippopotami,  etc. 

Order  SIRENIA.     Manatees,  Dugongs. 

Order  CETE.     Whales,  etc. 

Suborder  Mysticete.     Whalebone  Whales. 

Suborder    Odontocete.     Toothed    Whales     (Sperm    Whales,     Porpoises, 
Dolphins,  Narwhal,  etc.). 

*The  absence  of  an  allantoic  placenta  in  all  Marsupials  has  been  disproved  by 
its  discovery  in  Parameles. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.          29 

Order  GLIRES.     Gnawing  Mammals. 

Suborder  Simplicidentata.     Rats,  Porcupines,  Squirrels,  Beavers,  etc. 
Suborder  Duplicidentata.     Rabbits,  Hares,  Picas,  etc. 

Order  FER^E.     Flesh  Eaters. 

Suborder   Fissipedia.     Cats,    Hyenas,    Dogs,    Bears,    Raccoons,    Skunks, 

Otters,  etc. 
Suborder  Pinnipedia.     Seals  and  Walruses. 

Order  INSECTIVORA.     Insect  Eaters. 

Suborder  Insectivora  Vera.     Moles,  Shrews,  Hedgehogs,  etc. 
Suborder  Dermoptera.     Flying  Lemurs. 

Order  CHIROPTERA.     Bats. 

Suborder  Megachiroptera.     Frugivorous  Bats. 
Suborder  Microchiroptera.     Insectivorous  Bats,  etc. 

Order  PRIMATES. 

Suborder  Lemuroidea.    Lemurs,  etc. 

Suborder  Anthropoidea.     Monkeys,  Apes,  Man. 

Having  separated  the  mammals  into  subclasses,  orders  and  sub- 
orders, the  systematist  still  further  divides  them  into  families,  sub- 
families, genera,  subgenera,  and  finally  into  species  and  subspecies. 

While  the  various  families  are,  as  a  rule,  well  marked  and  may  be 
recognized  without  difficulty,  the  student  will  find  that  this  is  not 
always  the  case  where  species  and  subspecies  are  concerned,  especially 
among  the  smaller  Mammalia.  The  positive  identification  of  many 
species  often  depends  almost  entirely  upon  cranial  and  dental  dif- 
ferences, and  in  the  case  of  subspecies  the  difficulty  is  increased,  because 
here  the  cranial  characters  help  us  little.  The  coloration  of  many 
mammals  is  easily  affected  by  climate  and  environment.  The  change 
in  the  color  of  the  pelage  at  different  seasons  of  the  year  is  often  more 
or  less  confusing  to  the  student,  as  closely  allied  forms  occupying 
different  areas,  which  may  be  perfectly  distinguishable  at  certain  sea- 
sons, may  not  be  so  at  others;  furthermore,  specimens  from  intermediate 
localities  may  be  expected  to  show  inter-gs^dations,  which  makes  the 
problem  still  more  complex.  In  this  connection  it  should  be  borne  in 
mind  that  the  line  of  demarcation  between  a  species  and  a  subspecies 
is  a  purely  arbitrary  one  and  is  largely  a  matter  of  individual  opinion. 
In  zoological  nomenclature  subspecies  are  distinguished  by  a 
third  name;  for  example,  Lepus  floridanus  mearnsii  is  a  race  or  sub- 
species of  Lepus  floridanus. 


30      FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 


CLASSIFIED   LIST   OF   THE   MAMMALS   OF 
ILLINOIS  AND   WISCONSIN. 

Names  in  brackets  indicate  that  the  species  has  not  been  taken  within  our  limits;  but  occurs  in 
nearby  localities  within  a  few  miles  of  our  state  lines. 

ORDER   MARSUPIALIA. 

SUBORDER  POLYPROTODONTIA. 

FAMILY  DIDELPHIID^.     OPOSSUMS,  ETC. 

GENUS  DIDELPHIS  LINN. 
Didelphis  virginiana  KERR.     Virginia  Opossum. 

ORDER   UNGULATA. 
SUBORDER  ARTIODACTYLA. 

FAMILY  CERVID^E.    DEER,  MOOSE,  ELK,  CARIBOU,  ETC. 
SUBFAMILY  CERVIN^E. 
GENUS  ODOCOILEUS. 

Odocoihus  virginianus  (BoDD.).     Virginia  Deer,  White-tailed  Deer. 
Odocoileus  virginianus  borealis  (MILLER).     Northern  White-tailed  Deer. 

GENUS  CERVDS. 
Cervus  canadensis  (ERXLEBEN).     American  Elk. 

GENUS  PARALCES. 
Par alces  americanus  (CLINTON).     Moose. 

GENUS  RANGIFER. 
Rangifer  caribou  (GMEL.).     Woodland  Caribou. 

FAMILY  BOVTDJL     BISON,  OXEN,  SHEEP,  ETC. 
SUBFAMILY  BOVIN/E. 

GENUS  BISON. 
Bison  bison  (LlNN.).     American  Bison  or  Buffalo. 

ORDER  GLIRES. 

SUBORDER  SIMPLICIDENTATA. 

FAMILY  SCIURID^E.     SQUIRRELS,  WOODCHUCKS,  ETC. 

SUBFAMILY  PTEROMYIN^. 

GENUS  SCIUROPTERUS. 

SUBGENUS  GLAUCOMYS. 

•  Sciuropterus  volans  (LiNN.).     Southern  Flying  Squirrel. 
Sciuropterus  sabrinus  (SHAW).     Northern  Flying  Squirrel. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.          31 

SUBFAMILY  SCIURIN^. 

GENUS  SCIURUS. 
SUBGENUS  PARASCIURUS. 

•  Sciurus  niger  rufiventer  (GEOFFROY).  Western  Fox  Squirrel. 

SUBGENUS  NEOSCIURUS. 

•  Sciurus  carolinensis    GMELIN.     Southern  Gray  Squirrel. 

•  Sciurus  carolinensis  leucotis  (GAPPER).     Northern  Gray  Squirrel. 

SUBGENUS  TAMIASCIURUS. 

•  Sciurus  hudsonicus  loquax  BANGS.     Southern  Red  Squirrel. 

GENUS  TAMIAS. 

'Tamias  striatus  (LiNN.).     Chipmunk. 
1  Tamias  striatus  griseus  MEARNS.     Gray  Striped  Chipmunk. 

GENUS  EUTAMIAS. 

Eutamias  boreal  is  neglectus  (ALLEN).     Little  Chipmunk. 

SUBFAMILY  MARMOTIN^E. 
GENUS  CITELLUS. 

SUBGENUS  ICTIDOMYS. 

Citellus  tridecemlineatus  (MITCHILL).     Striped  Ground  Squirrel,  "Gopher." 
Citellus  franklini  (SABINE).     Franklin's  Ground  Squirrel,  "Gray  Gopher." 

GENUS  MARMOTA. 
Marmota  monax  (LiNN.).     Woodchuck. 
Marmota  monax  canadensis  (ERXLEBEN).     Canada  Woodchuck. 

FAMILY  CASTORID^.    BEAVERS. 

GENUS  CASTOR. 
Castor  canadensis  KUHL.     Beaver. 

FAMILY  MURID.E.     RATS  AND  MICE. 
SUBFAMILY  MURING. 

GENUS  MUS. 
Mus  musculus  LINN.     House  Mouse. 

GENUS  EPIMYS. 

Epimys  noruegicus  (ERXLEBEN).     Norway  Rat,  House  Rat. 
[Epimys  rattus  (LiNN.).     Black  Rat.] 

SUBFAMILY  CRICETIN^E. 

GENUS  PEROMYSCUS. 

SUBGENUS  PEROMYSCUS. 

Peromyscus  leucopus  (RAFIN.).     White-footed  Mouse. 

Peromyscus  leucopus  noveboracensis  (FISCHER).     Northern  White-footed  Mouse. 

Peromyscus     maniculatus     bairdi  (HoY  AND  KENNICOTT).     Prairie     White-footed 

Mouse. 

Peromyscus  maniculatus  gracilis  (LECoNTE).     Canadian  White-footed  Mouse. 
Peromyscus  gossypinus  megacephalus  (RHOADS).     Western  Cotton  Mouse. 


32       FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

SUBGENUS  OCHROTOMYS. 

Peromyscus  nuttalli  aureolus  (Auo.  AND  BACH.).     Southern  Golden  Mouse. 
GENUS  REITHRODONTOMYS. 

[Reithrodontomys  dychei  ALLEN.     Dyche's  Harvest  Mouse.] 

GENUS  ORYZOMYS. 
Oryzomys  palustris  (HARLAN).     Rice  Field  Mouse. 

SUBFAMILY  NEOTOMIN.E. 

GENUS  NEOTOMA. 
SUBGENUS  NEOTOMA. 
Neotoma  floridana  illinoensis  HOWELL.     Illinois  Wood  Rat. 

SUBFAMILY  MICROTIN/E. 

GENUS  EVOTOMYS. 
Evotomys  gapperi  (VIGORS).     Red-backed  Mouse  or  Vole. 

GENUS  MICROTUS. 
SUBGENUS  MICROTUS. 
Microtus  pennsylvanicus  (ORD).     Meadow  Mouse  or  Vole. 

SUBGENUS  PEDOMYS. 

Microtus  ochrogaster  (WAGNER).     Prairie  Meadow  Mouse  or  Vole. 
[Microtus  minor  MERRIAM.     Little  Meadow  Mouse  or  Vole.] 

SUBGENUS  PITYMYS. 
Microtus  pinetorum  scalopsoides  (Aun.  AND  BACH.).     Mole  Mouse  or  Mole-like  Vole. 

GENUS  FIBER. 
Fiber  zibethicus  (LiNN.).     Muskrat. 

GENUS  SYNAPTOMYS. 
SUBGENUS  SYNAPTOMYS. 

Synaptomys  cooperi  BAIRD.     Cooper's  Lemming  Mouse.]* 
Synaptomys  cooperi  gossii  (MERRIAM).     Goss's  Lemming  Mouse. 
Synaptomys  cooperi  fatuus  (BANGS).     Bangs's  Lemming  Mouse. 

FAMILY  GEOMYID.^.     POCKET  GOPHERS. 

GENUS  GEOMYS. 
Geomys  bursarius  (SHAW).     Pocket  Gopher. 

FAMILY  ZAPODID/E.    JUMPING  MICE. 
SUBFAMILY  ZAPODIN^E. 

GENUS  ZAPUS. 
Zapus  hudsonius  (ZiMM.).     Hudson  Bay  Jumping  Mouse. 

GENUS  NAP^EOZAPUS. 
[Napceozapus  insignis  (MILLER).     Woodland  Jumping  Mouse.] 

*I  have  seen  no  typical  specimens  of  5.  cooperi  from  Illinois,  but  specimens  from  the  east 
central  part  of  the  state  are  intermediate  between  cooperi  and  gossii. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.          33 

FAMILY  ERETHIZONTID^E.    AMERICAN  PORCUPINES. 
SUBFAMILY  ERETHIZONTIN^E. 

GENUS  ERETHIZON. 
Erethizon  dorsatum  (LiNN.).     Canada  Porcupine. 

SUBORDER  DUPLICIDENTATA. 

FAMILY  LEPORID^E.    HARES  AND  RABBITS. 

GENUS  LEPUS. 
SUBGENUS  LEPUS. 

Lepus  americanus  ph&onotus  ALLEN.     Varying  Hare,  Snow-shoe  Rabbit. 
[Lepus  campestris  BACHMAN.     Jackass  Rabbit,  "Jack  Rabbit."] 

GENUS  SYLVILAGUS.      . 
SUBGENUS  SYLVILAGUS. 
Sylv ilagus  ftoridanus  mearnsii  (ALLEN).     Mearns's  Cotton-tail  Rabbit,  Gray  Rabbit 

SUBGENUS  TAPETI. 
Sylvilagus  aquaticus  (BACHMAN).     Swamp  Rabbit. 

ORDER  FER/E. 
SUBORDER  FISSIPEDIA. 

FAMILY  FELID^.     THE  CATS. 
SUBFAMILY  FELIKLE. 

GENUS  FELIS. 
Felis  couguar  KERR.     Panther,  Cougar. 

GENUS  LYNX. 
SUBGENUS  LYNX. 
Lynx  canadensis  KERR.     Canada  Lynx. 

SUBGENUS  EUCERVARIA. 
Lynx  ruffus  (GULDEN.).     Wild  Cat,  Bay  Lynx. 

FAMILY  CANID^E.    WOLVES  AND  FOXES. 

GENUS  UROCYON. 

Urocyon  cinereoargenteus  (SCHREBER).     Gray  Fox. 
Urocyon  cinereoargenteus  ocythous  BANGS.     Wisconsin  Gray  Fox. 

GENUS  VULPES. 
Vulpesfulvus  (DESMAREST).     Red  Fox. 

GENUS  CANIS. 

Canis  nubilus  SAY.     Gray  Wolf,  Timber  Wolf. 
Canis  latrans  SAY.     Prairie  Wolf,  Coyote. 

FAMILY  MUSTELID^). 
SUBFAMILY  LUTRIN^E.    OTTERS. 

GENUS  LUTRA. 
Lutra  canadensis  (SCHREBER).     Canada  Otter. 


34      FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

SUBFAMILY  MELIN7E.    SKUNKS  AND  BADGERS. 
GENUS  MEPHITIS. 

Mephitis  hudsonica  (Ricn.).     Northern  Skunk,  Hudsonian  Skunk. 
Mephitis  mephitis  avia  (BANGS).     Illinois  Skunk. 
[Mephitis  mephitis  (SCHREBER).     North-eastern  Skunk.] 

GENUS  SPILOGALE. 

Spilogale  putorius  (LiNN.).     Alleghenian  Spotted  Skunk. 
[Spilogale  interrupta  (RAFIN.).     Prairie  Spotted  Skunk.] 

GENUS  TAXIDEA. 

Taxidea  taxus  (SCHREBER).     American  Badger. 

SUBFAMILY  MUSTELINE.     WEASELS,  MINK,  WOLVERINE,  ETC. 

GENUS  GULO. 
Gulo  luscus  (LiNN.).     Wolverine. 

GENUS  PUTORIUS.* 
SUBGENUS  LUTREOLA. 
Putorius  vison  lutreocephalus  (HARLAN).     Mink. 

SUBGENUS  ICTIS. 

Putorius  noveboracensis  EMMONS.     New  York  Weasel. 

t  Putorius  longicauda  spadix  BANGS.     Minnesota  Long-tailed  Weasel. 

Putorius  cicognanii  (BoNAP.).     Bonaparte's  Weasel. 

Putorius  rixosus  allegheniensis  (RHOADs).     Alleghenian  Least  Weasel. 

GENUS  MUSTELA.t    MARTENS,  ETC. 

Mustela  americana  TURTON.     Marten,  Pine  Marten. 
Mustela  pennanti  ERXLEBEN.     Fisher,  Pennant's  Marten. 

FAMILY  PROCYONID^E.     RACCOONS. 
SUBFAMILY  PROCYONI1SLE. 

GENUS  PROCYON. 
Procyon  lotor  (LiNN.).     Raccoon. 

FAMILY  URSID^E.     BEARS. 

GENUS  URSUS. 
Ursus  americanus  PALLAS.     Black  Bear. 

*According  to  Thomas  (Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  Lond.,  1911,  p.  139),  the  name  Putorius  commonly  used 
for  this  genus  must  be  changed  to  Mustela. 

fSpecimens  from  Wisconsin  are  not  typical  but  seem  to  approach  nearer  to  spadix  than  to  any  othe 
recognized  form. 

^According  to  Thomas  (Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  Lond.,  1911,  p.  139),  the  name  Mustela  commonly  used 
for  this  genus  must  give  place  to  Martes. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.         35 

ORDER  INSECTIVORA. 

SUBORDER  INSECTIVORA  VERA. 

FAMILY  SORICID^.    SHREWS. 

SUBFAMILY  SORICI1SLE. 

GENUS  SOREX. 
SUBGENUS  SOREX. 

Sorex  personatus  GEOFFROY  ST.  HILIARE.     Common  Shrew. 
Sorex  rifhardsonii  BACHMAN.     Richardson's  Shrew. 
Sorex  fumeus  MILLER.     Smoky  Shrew. 
Sorex  longirostris  BACHMAN.     Carolina  Shrew. 

GENUS  MICRO  SOREX. 

Microsorex  hoyi  (BAIRD).     Hoy's  Shrew. 

GENUS  NEOSOREX. 
Neosorex  palustris  (RiCH.).     Marsh  Shrew,  Water  Shrew. 

GENUS  BLARINA. 
SUBGENUS  BLARINA. 

Blarina  brevicauda  (SAY).     Short-tailed  Shrew,  Mole  Shrew. 
Blarina  brevicauda  carolinensis  (BACHMAN).     Carolina  Short-tailed  Shrew. 

SUBGENUS  CRYPTOTIS. 
Blarina  parva  (SAY).     Small  Short-tailed  Shrew. 

FAMILY  TALPID^.    MOLES. 
SUBFAMILY  TALPIISLE. 
GENUS  SCALOPUS. 
Scalopus  aquaticus  machrinus  (RAFIN.).     Prairie  Mole. 

GENUS  CONDYLURA. 
Condylura  cristata  (LiNN.).     Star-nosed  Mole. 

ORDER  CHIROPTERA. 

SUBORDER  MICROCHIROPTERA. 

FAMILY  VESPERTILIONID^E.    TYPICAL  BATS. 

SUBFAMILY  VESPERTILIONINvE. 

GENUS  MYOTIS. 

Myotis  lucifugus  (LECONTE).     Little  Brown  Bat. 
Myotis  grisescens  HOWELL.     Gray  Bat. 
Myotis  subulatus  (SAY).     Say's  Bat. 

GENUS  LASIONYCTERIS. 

Lasionycleris  noctivagans  (LfiCoNTE).     Silver-haired  Bat. 


36      FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 

GENUS  PIPISTRELLUS. 

Pipistrellus  subflavus  (F.  CUVIER).     Georgian  Bat. 

GENUS  EPTESICUS. 
Eptesicus  fuscus  (BEAUVOIS).     Brown  Bat. 

GENUS  NYCTERIS. 

Nycteris  borealis  (MULLER).     Red  Bat. 
Nycteris  cinereus  (BEAUVOIS).     Hoary  Bat. 

GENUS  NYCTICEIUS. 

Nycticeius  humeralis  (RAFIN.).     Rafinesque  Bat. 

GENUS  CORYNORHINUS. 

[Corynorhinus  macrotis  (LECONTE).     Big-eared  Bat.] 

FAMILY  MOLOSSID^E.    FREE-TAILED  BATS. 
GENUS  NYCTINOMUS. 

\Nyctinomus  depressus  (WARD).     Free- tailed  Bat.] 

ORDER  PRIMATES. 

SUBORDER  ANTHROPOIDEA. 

FAMILY  HOMINID^.     MAN. 

GENUS  HOMO. 
Homo  sapiens  americanus  (LINN).    American  Indian. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.         37 

HOW   TO   ESTIMATE   THE   AGE   OF  A   MAMMAL.* 

For  purposes  of  identification  it  is  often  essential  for  the  student  to 
know  whether  an  animal  is  old  or  young,  as  many  species  vary  greatly 
in  appearance  at  different  ages.  In  some  cases  he  will  learn  to  recognize 
immature  specimens  by  their  smaller  size  and  the  difference  in  the  color 
of  their  pelage;  but  in  others,  where  the  pelage  differs  but  little,  or  the 
young  animal  has  nearly  attained  its  full  growth,  an  approximate  idea 
of  its  age  can  best  be  formed  by  reference  to  anatomical  characters, 
such  as  the  degree  of  ossification  and  anchylosis  of  the  epiphyses,  the 
condition  of  the  cranial  sutures  and  of  the  teeth. 

In  the  young  animal  the  epiphyses  are  cartilaginous,  but  in  most 
cases  they  gradually  ossify  and  ultimately  (usually  at  the  age  of  matu- 
rity) become  anchylosed  to  the  main  part  of  the  bone.  The  cranial 
sutures,  which  in  the  immature  animal  have  the  appearance  of  "cracks " 
in  the  skull,  gradually  become  anchylosed,  and  in  advanced  age  their 
line  of  union  is  often  but  faintly  indicated  and  in  many  cases,  by  the 
ossification  of  the  intervening  tissue,  become  entirely  obliterated.  If 
the  edges  of  the  bones  are  notched,  so  as  to  interlock,  the  union  is  called 
a  dental  suture;  but,  if  they  are  bevelled  and  overlap,  the  union  is  a 
squamous  suture. 

Deciduous  teeth,  or  "milk-teeth,"  are  present  in  the  young  in  most 
species;  later  they  are  replaced  by  permanent  teeth.  At  the  age  of 
maturity  the  permanent  teeth  are  usually  in  perfect  condition,  but  in 
old  specimens  they  are  much  worn. 

HOW   TO   MEASURE   A   MAMMAL. 


Length   of  tail 

Length  of  hind  foot 


LENGTH  —  Distance  from  end  of  nose  to  end  of  vertebras  of  tail  (not 
including  the  hairs  which  may  extend  beyond) . 
*  For  definitions  of  terms,  see  Glossary,  p.  489. 


38      FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

TAIL  VERTEBRAE  OR  TAIL  —  Distance  from  point  where  it  joins  the  body 

to  the  tip  (not  including  the  hairs  which  may  extend  beyond) . 
HIND  FOOT  —  Distance  from  the  heel  (tarsal  joint)  to  the  end  of  the 

longest  claw. 
EAR  —  Distance  from  point  where  it  joins  the  skull  to  the  tip  (this  is 

the  method  followed  in  the  present  work;  some  persons  measure 

from  the  notch  to  the  tip) . 

LIFE  ZONES. 

Naturalists  have  learned  that  the  surface  of  the  earth  is  divisible 
into  regions  representing  the  distribution  of  the  various  forms  of  animal 
and  plant  life,  which,  it  has  been  found,  is  governed  by  variations  in 
temperature.  Dr.  C.  Hart  Merriam  says:  "Investigations  conducted 
by  the  Biological  Survey  have  shown  that  the  northward  distribution 
of  terrestrial  animals  and  plants  is  governed  by  the  sum  of  the  positive 
temperatures  of  the  entire  season  of  growth  and  reproduction,  and  that 
the  southward  distribution  is  governed  by  the  mean  temperature  of  a 
brief  period  during  the  hottest  part  of  the  year." 

The  North  American  continent  is  divided  into  three  great  primary 
regions:  (i)  The  Boreal  Region,  comprising  the  Arctic,  Hudsonian,  and 
Canadian  zones;  (2)  The  Austral  Region,  which  contains  the  Transition, 
Upper  Austral  and  Lower  Austral  zones;  and  (3)  The  Tropical  Region, 
the  last  being  represented  in  the  United  States  only  in  southern  Florida 
and  a  portion  of  Texas. 

The  more  humid  portions  of  the  Austral  zones  lying  east  of  the 
Great  Plains  (approximately  east  of  the  icoth  meridian  of  longitude) 
are  divided  into  faunal  areas,  or  faunas,  known  respectively,  as  the 
Alleghanian,  Carolinian  and  Austroriparian  faunas. 
The  Arctic  Zone  —  This  zone  lies  far  north,  beyond  the  limit  of  tree 
growth,  but  is  also  represented  in  more  southern  localities  on  high 
mountains  above  the  line  of  timber,  where  it  is  designated  as  Arctic- 
alpine. 

Hudsonian  Zone  —  This  comprises  the  most  northern  forested  regions 
of  the  continent,  and  is  largely  covered  with  firs  and  spruces.  It  is 
represented  in  more  southern  localities  on  the  upper  wooded  slopes 
of  high  mountains  in  the  United  States,  where  similar  climatic 
conditions  obtain,  and  is  there  termed  Hudsonian-alpine. 
Canadian  Zone  —  This  comprises  the  more  southern  portion  of  the  con- 
iferous forest  regions  of  Canada  and  the  northern  parts  of  Wisconsin, 
Michigan  and  New  England.  Under  the  name  of  Canadian-alpine  it 
also  includes  portions  of  mountains  in  the  United  States  and  Mexico, 
situated  at  an  altitude  where  similar  climatic  conditions  exist. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY. 


39 


Transition  Zone  —  This  zone  is  characterized  by  comparatively  few 
distinctive  animals  and  plants,  but  covers  a  territory  which  repre- 
sents the  southern  limit  of  many  northern  species  and  the  northern 
limit  of  many  more  southern  species. 

Upper  Austral,  Lower  Austral  and  Tropical  Zones  —  In  the  Upper 
Austral  Zone  we  find  trees  such  as  oaks,  hickories,  chestnuts,  etc., 
in  abundance,  which  are  gradually  succeeded  by  persimmons,  mag- 
nolias, cyprus,  etc.,  in  the  Lower  Austral  Zone;  and  again  by  palms, 
bananas,  etc.,  in  the  Tropical  Zone,  which  in  eastern  United  States 
is  represented  only  in  southern  Florida.  As  with  the  plant  life, 
there  is  a  corresponding  change  in  the  fauna  of  these  different  zones, 


Map  showing  Life  Zones  in  eastern  North  America,  from  Hudson  Bay  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico. 
Copied  from  the  U.  S.  Biological  Survey's  Fourth  Provisional  Zone  Map  of  North  America  prepared 
by  C.  Hart  Merriam,  Vernon  Bailey,  E.  W.  Nelson,  and  E.  A.  Preble,  1910. 


40      FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 

but  the  limits  of  the  latter  are  not  so  clearly  marked  as  in  the  former, 
inasmuch  as  animals  have  the  power  of  moving  about  at  will  and 
with  few  exceptions  are  not  confined  to  one  locality  throughout 
the  year.  The  ranges  of  many  species  of  mammals  are  often  not 
restricted  to  one  zone,  but  may  include  a  portion  of  two  or  more. 

It  is  important  that  the  student  should  become  familiar  with 
the  location  of  these  zones,  as  reference  to  them  is  often  made  by 
writers  in  describing  the  distribution  of  species.* 

*  To  students,  who  desire  to  pursue  this  important  subject  further,  the  following 
publications  are  recommended: 

WALLACE,  A.  R.     Geographical  Distribution  of  Animals,  I  and  II,  New  York,  1876. 
ALLEN,  J.  A.     Geographical   Distribution   of  the   Mammalia.     Bull.    U.    S.   Geol. 

and  Geogr.  Surv.  Terr.,  IV,  No.  2,  1878,  pp.  313-377. 
ALLEN,  J.  A.     Geographical   Distribution   of   N.   Amer.    Mammals.     Bull.    Amer. 

Mus.  Nat.  Hist.,  IV,  1892,  pp.  199-243. 
MERRIAM,  C.  H.     Geographical  Distribution  of  Life  in  N.  Amer.     Proc.  Biol.  Soc. 

Wash.,  VII,  1892,  pp.  1-64. 
MERRIAM,  C.  H.     Life  Zones  and  Crop  Zones  of  the  U.  S.     U.  S.  Dept.  Agric., 

Div.  Biol.  Surv.,  Bull.  No.  10,  1898. 


REPRESENTED  WITHIN  OUR  LIMITS. 


KEY  TO  THE  ORDERS. 

1.  Fingers  greatly  elongated,  supporting  a  leathery  membrane  which  serves  as  a 

wing.  Order  CHIROPTERA,  p.  445. 

2.  Fingers  not  greatly  elongated  and  not  supporting  a  leathery  membrane  which 

serves  as  a  wing. 

A.  Feet  provided  with  hoofs.  Order  UNGULATA,  p.  57. 

B.  Feet  provided  with  claws  or  nails. 

bi.  No  canine  teeth  present;  a  wide  gap  betv/een  cheek  teeth  and  incisors; 
front  teeth  (incisors)  large  and  chisel-shaped,  never  more  than  two 
in  lower  jaw.  Order  GLIRES,  p.  97. 

b2.  Canine  teeth  present  and  prominent,  longer  and  noticeably  different 

from  the  others. 

Tail  and  ears  nearly  or  quite  naked   (hairless);  female  with    external 
abdominal  pouch.  Order  MARSUPIALIA,  p.  49. 

Tail  and  ears  not  naked;  female  without  abdominal  pouch. 

Order  FERffi,  p.  275. 

b3.  Canine  teeth  present  but  not  prominent  and  but  little  different  from 
others;  teeth  continuous,  with  no  wide  gap  between  them;  upper  lip 
projecting  beyond  lower;  snout  long.  Order  INSECTIVORA,  p.  405 


KEY  TO  THE  FAMILIES. 

GROUP  1.     Order  MARSUPIALIA.     Pouched  Mammals. 

Tail  nearly  naked;  ears  naked; 
general  color  grayish  white;  teeth 
50;  canine  teeth  present;  hind  foot 
with  five  toes,  the  innermost  one 
shaped  like  a  thumb  and  without 
claw;  female  with  external  abdom- 
inal pouch  for  carrying  young  after  birth.  A  single  species  occurs  within 
our  limits,  which  is  about  the  size  of  a  large  Domestic  Cat. 

Family  DIDELPHIIDjE.     Opossums,  p.  51 . 


42       FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 


GROUP  2.     Order  UNGULATA.    Hoofed  Mammals. 

SECTION  1.     Horns  branched  and  solid  (not  hollow)  and  annually 
shed. 


Family  CERVID^E. 
Deer,  Moose,  Caribou,  etc.,  p.  58. 


SECTION  2.     Horns  simple  (not  branched),  permanent  (not  annually 
shed),  and  more  or  less  hollow. 


Family  BOVID^E. 
American  Bison  or  Buffalo,  etc.,  p.  86. 


GROUP  3.     Order  GLIRES.     Gnawing  Mammals.     Squirrels,  Rab- 
bits, Rats,  Beavers,  etc. 


Front  teeth  (incisors)  large  and  chisel- 
shaped  and  separated  from  the  molars  on 
side  of  jaw  by  a  wide  gap;  canine  teeth  ab- 
sent; toes  with  nails  or  claws. 


Skull  of  a  Rodent. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.          43 


SECTION  1.     Upper  front  teeth  (incisors)  2. 

PART-1.     Tail  very  broad  and  flat  (paddle-shaped)  and  without  hair; 
hind  toes  broadly  webbed;  total  length  of  adult 
3  feet  or  more. 


Family  CASTORID^E.    Beavers,  p.  158. 


PART  2.     Body  more  or  less  covered  with  sharp,  stiff  quills;  tail  not 

flat  and  naked;  total  length  of  adult 
2  feet  or  more. 


Family  ERETHIZONTID^E. 
American  Porcupines,  p.  253. 


PART  3.     Tail  not  broad,  flat  and  naked,  and  no  sharp  quills  on  body. 

A.  Four  or  more  developed  grinding  teeth  (molars  and  premolars)  on  side 

of  each  jaw. 

ai.  Tail  thickly  haired  or  bushy;  cheek  pouches  (when  present)  open- 
ing inside  of  mouth. 


Family  SCIURIDiE.     Squirrels,  Woodchucks,  etc.,  p.  98. 


44      FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 


a2.  Tail  not  thickly  haired;  cheeks  with  large  external  pouch  open- 
ing outside  of  mouth;  front  of  incisors 
deeply  grooved;  claws  on  fore  feet  very 
long. 

Family  GEOMYID^. 
Pocket  Gophers,  p.  239. 


B.  Not  more  than  3  well  developed  grinding  teeth  on  si'de  of  jaw;  tail 

closely  haired,  or  in  some  species  nearly  or  quite  naked, 
bi.  Hind  feet  ordinary,  not  greatly  elongated. 


Family  MURID^.     Rats  and  Mice,  p.  171. 


02.  Hind  feet  much  elongated;  tail  very  long;  size  small  (in  one 
species  a  very  small  premolar  is  present  in 
addition  to  the  three  well  developed  molars). 


Family  ZAPODID^E.    Jumping  Mice,  p.  246. 


SECTION  2.  Upper  front  teeth  (incisors)  4;  two  large  incisors  and 
two  very  small  ones  directly  behind  them; 
ears  and  hind  legs  noticeably  long. 

Family  LEPORID^E.     Hares  and  Rabbits,  p.  259. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.         45 


GROUP  4.     Order    FERE.     Flesh    Eaters.     Bears,  Cats,  Wolves, 
Skunks,  Weasels,  etc. 

Canine  teeth  present  and  prominent,  longer  and 
noticeably  different  from  the  others;  front  teeth 
(incisors)  comparatively  small;  toes  with  claws. 


Skull  of  Wild  Cat  showing 
canine  teeth. 


SECTION  1.     Hind  foot  with  4  toes. 

PART  1.  Shape,  cat-like;  toes  armed  with  sharp  claws,  which  are 
retractile  (capable  of  being  extended  or  drawn 
back  as  in  a  sheath) ;  teeth  30  or  less. 


Family  FELID^B.     Cats,  Lynxes,  Panthers,  etc. 

p.  277. 


PART  2.     Shape,  dog-like;  claws  not  retractile;  teeth  42;  muzzle  long. 


Family  CANID1E. 

Wolves,  Foxes,  etc. 

p.  296. 


SECTION  2.     Hind  foot  with  5  toes. 

PART  1.  Size  large,  200  to  300  Ibs.  or  more;  fur  black;  teeth  42; 
practically  entire  sole  of  foot  touches  the 
ground  when  walking  (plantigrade). 


Family  URSID^E.     Bears,  p.  396. 


46      FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 


PART  2.  Size  medium;  tail  bushy,  showing  several  distinct  dark  rings 
(annulated);  practically  entire  sole  of  foot 
touches  the  ground  when  walking  (planti- 
grade) . 

Family  PROCYONID^E.     Raccoons,  p.  391. 


PART  3.  Size  variable  in  different  species;  tail  hairy  but  never  show- 
ing several  distinct  rings  or  bars;  sole  of  foot  not  touching  the 
ground  when  walking. 


Family  MUSTELID^E.     Otters,   Skunks,  Minks,  Weasels,  Martens, 
Wolverine  and  Badgers.  p.  327. 

GROUP  5.    Order  INSECTIVORA.    Insect  Eaters. 

Size  small,  the  largest  (in  our  species)  less  than  10  inches  long;  snout  long, 
upper  lip  noticeably  projecting  beyond  the  lower;  canine  teeth  present 
but  not  noticeably  prominent,  and  differing  but  little  from  the  others ;  tooth 
row  practically  continuous,  with  no  wide  gap  as  in  Glires;  eyes  very  small, 
often  rudimentary;  ears  concealed  except  in  one  genus;  toes  with  claws. 

SECTION  1.     No  external  ear;  front  feet  very  large  and  wide;  claws 

large;  fur  thick  and  soft;  length  more  than 
5  inches. 

Family  TALPID.S.     Moles,  p.  433. 


SECTION  2.  External  ear  present  but  small  and  in  some  species 
concealed  by  fur;  feet  normal,  front  ones  not  conspicu- 
ously large;  somewhat  resembles  a  small  Mouse  but  snout 
much  more  elongated  and  slender. 

Family  SORICID^.     Shrews,  p.  406. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY. 


47 


GROUP  6.     Order  CHIROPTERA.    Bats. 

Fore  limbs  modified  and  fingers  greatly  elongated,  supporting  a  leathery  mem- 
brane which  is  attached  to  the  hind  limbs  and  body 
and  forms  a  wing. 

Body  covered  with  soft  fur;  wings  more  or 
less  bare.  Most  of  our  Bats  are  comparatively 
small  and  they  are  often  observed  flying  about 
in  the  evening. 

Family  VESPERTILIONID/E.     Bats,  p.  445. 


ORDER  MARSUPIALIA. 

MARSUPIALS. 

The  Marsupials,  or  so-called  Pouched  Mammals,  comprise  a  large 
number  of  curious  animals,  including  the  Kangaroos,  Wombats,  etc.,  and 
are  mostly  confined  to  the  Australian  region.  They  are  represented, 
however,  in  the  new  world  by  the  Opossums  (Didelphiida),  a  number  of 
species  of  which  are  found  in  North  and  South  America;  and  also  in  the 
latter  country  by  Caenolestes,*  a  representative  of  the,  until  lately, 
supposed  extinct  family  Epanorthidce. 

As  the  name  marsupial  implies,  in  many  cases  the  female  is  furnished 
with  an  external  abdominal  pouch  in  which  the  young,  which  are  born  in 
a  very  incomplete  stage  of  development,!  are  placed  by  the  mother 
and  suckled  until  they  are  sufficiently  grown  to  be  able  to  move  about  by 
themselves.  In  Phascologale,  however,  the  pouch  is  only  present  in 
rudiment,  and  it  is  apparently  entirely  absent  in  Myrmecobius.  In  the 
American  members  of  the  order  the  pouch  is  often  absent,  sometimes 
rudimentary,  and  occasionally  well  developed 

Some  Marsupials  are  herbivorous,  others  insectivorous,  and  a  few  are 
carnivorous.  The  North  American  Opossums  seem  to  be  practically 
omnivorous.  Members  of  the  family  are  terrestrial,  arboreal  or  bur- 
rowing, and  one  (Chironectes),  a  small  Central  and  South  American 
species,  has  webbed  hind  feet  and  is  semiaquatic. 

Among  members  of  this  order  usually  only  one  tooth  of  the  milk  set 
is  functional,  the  fourth  premolar;  a  developed  clavicle  is  always  present. 
There  are  differences  in  brain  characters  which  distinguish  Marsupials 
from  higher  mammals,  among  which  is  the.  almost  total  absence  of  a  true 
corpus  callosum.  The  cloaca  is  reduced  and  shallow.  A  true  allantoic 
placenta  is  rarely  present  (so  far  as  known,  only  in  Parameles).  The 
uterus  and  vagina  are  double.  The  mammae  vary  in  number  but  .are 

*  A  number  of  specimens  of  this  little  known  Marsupial  were  taken  by  Mr.  W.  H. 
Osgood  in  the  mountains  of  western  Venezuela  and  eastern  Colombia  in  the  spring  of 
1911.  Study  of  this  material  is  now  under  way  and  will  be  the  subject  of  a  special 
paper  which  will  appear  later  in  the  Publications  of  this  Museum. 

t  Flower  and  Lydekker  say,  "In  this  stage  of  their  existence  they  are  fed  by 
milk  injected  into  their  stomach  by  the  contraction  of  the  muscles  covering  the 
mammary  gland,  the  respiratory  organs  being  modified  temporarily,  much  as  they 
are  permanently  in  the  Cetacea,  the  elongated  upper  part  of  the  larynx  projecting 
into  the  posterior  nares,  and  so  maintaining  a  free  communication  between  the  lungs 
and  the  external  surface  independently  of  the  mouth  and  gullet,  thus  averting  the 
danger  of  suffocation  while  the  milk  is  passing  down  the  latter  passage."  (Mammals 
Living  and  Extinct,  1891,  pp.  130-131.) 

49 


50      FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 

always  abdominal.     In  the  male  the  usual  positions  of  the  external 
genital  organs  are  transposed;  a  caecum  is  present,  but  small. 

Marsupials  possess  a  number  of  characters  which  have  puzzled 
naturalists  as  to  their  origin,  as  in  some  ways  they  resemble  Prototherian 
mammals  and  in  others  Eutherian,  but  the  balance  of  evidence  seems 
to  indicate  a  much  nearer  relationship  to  the  latter,  and  it  is  probable 
that  they  are  derived  from  some  primitive  form  of  Eutherian  mammal, 
having,  in  Beddard's  opinion,  "separated  from  the  Eutherian  stock  after 
it  had  acquired  a  definite  diphyodonty  and  the  allantoic  placenta."* 


*  Mammalia,  1902,  p.  119 


Skull  of  Opossum  (Didelphis  virginianai. 
(About  J  nat.  size.) 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.          51 

SUBORDER   POLYPROTODONTIA. 
Family  DIDELPHI ID^.      Opossums. 

The  members  of  this  family  are  confined  to  North,  Central  and 
South  America.  They  are  pentadactylous  and  the  tail  is  usually  long 
and  prehensile.  The  majority  are  arboreal  and  mainly  insectivorous, 
but  many  of  the  larger  species  eat  birds,  eggs,  reptiles,  etc.,  and  one 
tropical  species  is  semiaquatic  and  is  said  to  subsist  largely  upon  fish. 
Our  species  of  Opossum  seems  to  be  practically  omnivorous. 

The  teeth  are  50  in  number.  The  single  species  which  occurs  within 
our  limits  has  a  well  developed  abdominal  pouch,  but,  as  has  been  pre- 
viously stated,  in  some  members  of  the  family  it  is  more  or  less  rudi- 
mentary, being  merely  composed  of  two  lateral  folds  of  skin  separated  at 
each  end,  while  in  others  it  is  entirely  absent. 

Genus  DIDELPHIS  Linn. 

Didelphis  Linnaeus,  Syst.  Nat.,  X  ed.,  I,  1758,  p.  54.  Type  (by  elimina- 
tion) Didelphis  marsupialis  Linn. 

External  abdominal  pouch,  into  which  the  teats  open,  well  devel- 
oped; feet  with  five  toes;  the  hind  feet  with  inner  toe  thumb-like, 
without  nail  and  opposable  to  the  others;  ears  and  tail  largely  naked, 
the  latter  prehensile;  skull  with  sagittal  and  occipital  crests  strongly 
developed;  incisors  small  and  pointed;  premolars  with  compressed, 
pointed  crowns;  canines  large;  gape  of  mouth  very  large;  bristles  on 
nostrils  and  lips,  long. 

Dental  formula:  i  ^,   C.  — -,   Pm.  ^,   M.  ^— -  =50. 
4-4  i-i  3-3  4-4 

Didelphis  virginiana   KERR. 
VIRGINIA  OPOSSUM. 

Didelphis  marsupialis  LINN.,  Syst.  Nat.,  X  ed.,  I,  1758,  p.  54  (in  part  only). 

Didelphis  virginiana  KERR,  Anim.  Kingd.,  1792,  p.  173.  RAYMOND,  Kept.  Geol. 
Surv.  Ind.,  1869,  p.  205  (Indiana).  GARMAN,  Bull.  Essex  Inst.,  XXVI,  1894, 
p.  7  (Kentucky).  ALLEN,  Bull.  Amer.  Mus.  Nat.  Hist.,  XIV,  1901,  p.  162 
(Illinois,  Tennessee,  Missouri,  etc.).  JACKSON,  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XX, 
1907,  p.  71  (Missouri).  Ib.,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  VI,  1908,  p.  14  (Wis- 
consin). McATEE,  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XX,  1907,  p.  2  (Indiana).  HAHN, 
Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  XXXII,  1907,  p.  456  (N.  W.  Indiana).  Ib.,  Proc.  U. 
S.  Nat.  Mus.,  XXXV,  1908,  p.  568  (S.  Indiana).  Ib.,  Ann.  Rep.  Dept. 
Geol.  &  Nat.  Resources  Ind.,  1908  (1909),  p.  448  (Indiana).  EVERMANN 
&  CLARK,  Proc.  Wash.  Acad.  Sci.,  XIII,  1911,  p.  2  (Indiana). 


52       FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 

Didelphus  Virginiana  LAPHAM,  Trans.  Wis.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  II,  1852  (1853),  p.  337 

(Wisconsin). 
Didelphys  Virginianus  R.  KENNICOTT,  Trans.  111.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  I,  1853-54  (i%55)> 

p.  580  (Cook  Co.,  Illinois). 
Didelphys  Virginiana  THOMAS,  Trans.  111.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  IV,  1859-60  (1861),  p.  656 

(Illinois).     STRONG,  Geol.  Wis.,  Surv.  1873-79,  I,  1883,  p.  440  (Wisconsin). 
Didelphys  virginiana  MILES,  Rept.  Geol.  Surv.  Mich.,  1860  (1861),  p.  220  (Michigan). 

ALLEN,  Proc.  Bost.    Soc.    Nat.    Hist.,    XIII,    1869    (1871),    p.    194    (Iowa). 

OSBORN,  Proc.  Iowa  Acad.  Sci.,  I,  1887-89  (1890),  p.  44  (Iowa).     WOOD,  Bull. 

111.  State  Lab.  Nat.  Hist.,  VIII,  1910,  p.  513  (Champaign  Co.,  Illinois). 
Didelphis  Virginiana  HOY,  Trans.  Wis.  Acad.  Sci.,  Arts  &  Letters,  V,  1882,  p.  256 

(Wisconsin). 

Type  locality  —  Virginia. 

Distribution  —  Eastern  United  States  (except  Florida  and  the  coast 
region  of  the  Gulf  states,  where  a  slightly  different  form  occurs), 
north  to  Long  Island  and  New  York,  and  west,  south  of  the  Great 
Lakes,  to  southern  Michigan,  southern  Wisconsin  and  Iowa,  thence 
southward  to  eastern  Texas. 

Description  —  Adult:  General  color  grayish  white,  the  under  fur  with 
blackish  tips  and  overlaid  with  long  white  hairs;  legs  blackish;  feet 
black,  with  partly  white  toes;  whole  of  the  head,  throat,  and  sides  of 
the  neck  white,  sometimes  tinged  with  yellowish ;  at  times  a  narrow 
blackish  eye  ring  and  usually  a  small  blackish  spot  in  front  of  the  eye; 
ears  black  and  nearly  naked,  edged  with  flesh  color;  tail  nearly 
naked,  dull  flesh  color  becoming  blackish  at  the  base;  toe  nails  and 
soles  of  feet  flesh  color;  inner  toe  of  hind  foot  thumb-like  and  without 
nail.  Female  with  external  abdominal  pouch  into  which  the  13 
teats  open  and  in  which  the  young  are  carried  and  nourished  after 
birth;  pouch  lined  with  soft  brownish  woolly  hair. 

Measurements  —  Length,  about  26  to  33  in.  (680  to  850  mm.) ;  tail,  1 1  to 
13.50  in.  (280  to  345  mm.). 

The  Virginia  Opossum  is  common  in  wooded  localities  in  southern 
Illinois  and  occurs  sparingly  in  northern  Illinois  and  southern  Wisconsin. 
In  the  latter  state  Moses  Strong  states  it  was  "found  occasionally  in  the 
vicinity  of  Lake  Michigan"  (I.e.,  p.  440);  Hollister  records  three  speci- 
mens having  been  killed  in  Walworth  County  during  the  past  fifteen 
years  (/.  c.,  p.  137);  Jackson  states  that  three  specimens  were  taken  in 
Green  County,  one  in  January,  1902,  and  two  in  the  autumn  of  1906. 
Dr.  Hoy  writes,  "The  Opossum  were  not  uncommon  in  Racine  and  Wal- 
worth counties  as  late  as  1848.  They  have  been  caught  as  far  north  as 
Waukesha  and  one  near  Madison  in  1872,  since  which  time  I  have  not 
heard  of  any  being  taken.  I  am  told  that  a  few  are  still  found  in  Grant 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY. 


53 


County"  (/.  c.,  p.  257).     Mr.  W.  E.  Snyder  has  a  male  specimen  in  his 
collection  taken  near  Beaver  Dam,  Dodge  County,  Wisconsin,  May  9, 


Virginia  Opossum  (Didelphis  virginiana). 

1907,  and  he  informs  me  an  Opossum  was  killed  near  Columbus,  Colum- 
bia County,  in  the  fall  of  1905. 

Kennicott  states  that  the  Opossum  was  at  one  time  not  uncommon 
in  Cook  County,  Illinois  (/.  c.,  p.  580).  Mr.  John  F.  Ferry  procured 
two  specimens  alive  in  the  fall  of  1907,  which  were  trapped  on  an 


54      FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 


island  in  Rock  River  near  Oregon,  Ogle  County,  northwestern  Illinois. 
It  has  also  been  taken  in  the  vicinity  of  Glen  Ellyn,  Du  Page  County, 
Illinois,  by  Mr.  B.  T.  Gault,  who  writes,  "An  Opossum  was  found 
dead  in  our  woods  February  19,  1910,  evidently  having  been  killed 
by  dogs.  It  was  quite  badly  mutilated  and  the  fur  slipped  consid- 
erably, probably  having  been  dead  some  time.  Another  one  was 
killed  here  New  Year's  day  and  the  man  who  did  it  tells  me  he  has 
taken  two  others  within  the  past  ten  years."  I  have  seen  a  specimen 
killed  near  the  Kankakee  River  not  far  from  the  Indiana  line,  and 
another  from  the  vicinity  of  Warsaw,  Hancock  County,  Illinois.  It  is 
also  recorded  by  Dr.  J.  A.  Allen  from  the  latter  locality  (1.  c.,  p.  162). 
Farther  south  it  becomes  more  common  and  is  reported  from  various 
places  in  southern  Illinois.  The  Field  Museum  collection  contains 
specimens  taken  near  Bogota,  Jasper  County,  and  Olive  Branch, 
Alexander  County. 

The  Opossum  is  very  prolific;  usually  two  and  sometimes  three 
litters  are  born  in  a  season  and  the  young  usually  number  from  8  to  13 
in  a  litter.  When  born  they  are  extremely  small,  considerably  less  than 
an  inch  in  length,  imperfectly  developed,  naked  and  absolutely  helpless. 
They  are  immediately  placed  in  the  pouch  by  the  mother,  where  they 

attach  themselves  to 
the  nipples  and  remain 
so  for  several  weeks 
until  sufficiently  .grown 
to  be  able  to  move 
about  and  help  them- 
selves. When  they  are 
able  to  leave  the 
pouch,  they  are  often 
carried  about  on  the 
back  of  the  old  Opos- 
sum, clinging  to  her  fur 
and  with  their  tails 
wrapped  around  that 
of  their  mother,  which 
she  obligingly  holds 
over  her  back  for  the 
purpose. 

Opossums  are  noc- 
turnal in  their  habits, 

although  I  have  occasionally  met  with  one  wandering  about  in  the 
woods  in  the  day  time.  They  move  slowly  when  on  the  ground  and 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.         55 

when  surprised  often  lie  perfectly  still  and  pretend  to  be  dead, 
"playing  possum"  as  it  is  called.  They  will  then  usually  permit 
themselves  to  be  lifted  by  the  tail  and  for  a  short  time  will  hang 
limp  and  motionless;  but  care  should  be  taken  not  to  trust  them 
too  far,  for  their  teeth  are  very  sharp,  and  they  can  bite  viciously 
when  once  they  have  made  up  their  minds  to  do  so.  The  Opossum 
usually  makes  its  home  in  a  hollow  tree,  log  or  stump,  although 
it  occasionally  prefers  a  hole  in  the  ground.  It  is  omnivorous,  eating 
almost  anything  in  the  way  of  food,  including  birds  and  eggs,  mice,  frogs, 
fish,  insects  and  fruit  of  various  kinds.  Audubon  and  Bachman  say: 
"It  enters  the  corn  fields  (maize),  crawls  up  the  stalks,  and  sometimes 
breaks  them  down  in  the  manner  of  a  raccoon,  to  feed  on  the  young  and 
tender  grains;  it  picks  up  chestnuts,  acorns,  chinquapins  and  beech 
nuts,  and  munches  them  in  the  manner  of  a  bear.  We  have,  on  dis- 
section, ascertained  that  it  had  devoured  blackberries,  whortleberries, 
and  wild  cherries,  and  its  resort  to  the  persimmon  tree  is  proverbial. 
It  is  also  insectivorous,  and  is  seen  scratching  up  the  leaves  in  search 
of  worms,  and  the  larvae  of  insects,  of  which  it  is  very  fond.  In  early 
spring  it  lays  the  vegetable  kingdom  under  contribution  for  its  support, 
and  we  have  observed  it  digging  up  the  roots  of  the  small  atamamasco 
lily  (Zepherina  atamasco),  and  the  young  and  tender  shoots  of  the 
China  brier  (Smilax  rotundifolia) ,  as  they  shoot  out  of  the  ground  like 
asparagus.  It  is  moreover  decidedly  carnivorous,  eating  young  birds 
that  it  may  detect  on  the  ground,  sucking  the  eggs  in  all  the  partridge, 
towhee  bunting  and  other  nests,  it  can  find  in  its  persevering  search. 
It  destroys  mice  and  other  rodentia,  and  devours  whole  broods  of 
young  rabbits,  scratching  about  the  nest  and  scattering  the  hair  and 
other  materials  of  which  it  was  composed.  .  .  .  We  must  admit 
that  it  sometimes  makes  a  sly  visit  to  the  poultry  house,  killing  a  few 
of  the  hens  and  playing  havoc  among  the  eggs.  The  annoyances  of 
the  farmer,  however,  from  this  mischievous  propensity,  are  not  as 
great  as  those  sustained  from  some  of  the  other  species,  and  cannot 
for  a  moment  be  compared  with  the  destruction  caused  by  the  weasel, 
the  mink,  or  the  skunk."*  The  flesh  is  esteemed  by  many  people, 
especially  negroes,  but  it  has  a  peculiar  oily  flavor  which  is  not  always 
agreeable.  The  skin  when  dyed  makes  a  not  unattractive  fur. 

Specimens  examined  from  Illinois  and  Wisconsin: 
Illinois  —  Olive  Branch,  Alexander  Co.,    2;   Bogota,   Jasper  Co.,   5; 

"Illinois"  (adult  and  juv.),  8;  (O.)  Oregon,  Ogle  Co.,  2;  Warsaw, 

Hancock  Co.,  i ;  Kankakee  River,  1  =  19. 
Wisconsin  —  (S.  C.)  Beaver  Dam,  Dodge  Co.,  i. 

*Quadrupeds  N.  Amer.,  II,  1854,  pp.  112-113. 


56      FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 


Map  illustrating  approximate  distribution  of  Opossums  in  eastern  United  States. 
Stragglers  occasionally  occur  slightly  farther  north. 

Didelphis  virginiana  KERR.  Type  locality  —  Virginia.  Description  as  previously 
given. 

Didelphis  v.  pigra  BANGS.  (Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  XXVIII,  1898,  p.  172.) 
Type  locality  — -  Oak  Lodge,  opposite  Micco,  Brevard  Co.,  Florida.  Similar 
but  smaller  and  somewhat  darker  than  virginiana;  tail  longer  and  more  slender. 


ORDER  UNGULATA. 

HOOFED   MAMMALS. 

This  order  comprises  the  Hoofed  Mammals,  such  as  Deer,  Oxen, 
Horses,  Sheep,  Swine,  Elephants,  etc.,*  representatives  of  the  various 
families  being  widely  distributed  throughout  the  world,  except  in 
Australia  and  Madagascar.  They  are  terrestrial,  digitigrade,  and  vege- 
tarian. The  molars  are  broad,  with  ridged  or  tuberculate  surfaces; 
the  teeth  are  heterodont  or  diphyodont;  and  the  "milk  teeth"  remain 
longer  than  in  most  mammals;  clavicles  are  not  present  in  living 
species;  the  digits  vary  from  one  to  five,  and  are  usually  incased  in  a 
horny  hoof,  although  in  some  cases,  such  as* the  Elephants,  there  are 
broad  blunt  nails. 

The  American  Ungulates  belong  to  two  suborders:  Perissodactyla, 
those  having  an  uneven  number  of  toes,  such  as  the  Horse  and  Tapir; 
and  Artiodactyla,  those  possessing  an  even  number  of  toes,  such  as 
Deer,  Oxen,  Sheep,  etc.  The  latter  are  characterized  by  the  prom- 
inence of  the  third  and  fourth  digits,  while  the  second  and  fifth  are 
indicated  by  small  lateral  hoofs,  or  "false  hoofs,"  which  are  rarely,  if 
ever,  functional,  and  in  some  species  are  entirely  absent. 

The  suborder  Artiodactyla  is  generally  divided  into  two  groups  or 
divisions  consisting  of  (i)  the  Suinea,  comprising  the  families  contain- 
ing the  Swine  and  Hippopottami; 
and  (2)  the  Selenodontia,  or  Rum- 
inantia,f  comprising  the  other  rep- 
resentatives of  the  suborder,  such  as 
Deer,  Oxen,  Sheep,  etc.,  which  rum- 
inate or  "chew  their  cud." 

In  all  "ruminants"  the  stomach 

Stomach  of  Ruminant  js    usually    divided    into    foUT    COm- 

o,  (Esophagus;   b,  rumen  or  pouch;   h,  reticu-  * 

lum  or  honeycomb  bag ;  d,  psalterium  or  manyplies;  partmentS  (in  the  Tragulid(B  there 
c,  abomasum  or  reed;  f,  duodenum.  (After  " 

are  but  three),  and  the  operation 

consists  of  forcing  back  the  hastily  and  improperly  chewed  grass  or 
vegetable  matter  from  the  stomach  into  the  mouth,  where  the  food  is 

*  See  page  28. 

t  The  Ruminantia  are  again  subdivided  into  somewhat  natural  groups:  (i) 
Tragulina,  comprising  the  Cheyrotains  or  Deerlets;  (2)  Tylopoda,  Camels,  Llamas, 
Vicunas,  etc.;  and  (3)  Pecora,  including  the  families  Cermdce,  Deer,  etc.;  Giraffida, 
Giraffes  and  Okapi;  and  Bovidce,  Oxen,  Sheep,  Goats,  Old  World  Antelopes  and  not 
unlikely  the  American  Antelope  or  Pronghorn,  although  the  last  is  usually  placed 
in  a  family  by  itself  (A  ntilocaprida) . 

57 


58      FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

given  a  more  thorough  mastication  before  it  passes  into  the  third  and 
fourth  compartments  of  the  stomach  where  the  true  digestive  process 
begins.  In  all  Ruminants  the  incisors  or  front  teeth  in  the  upper 
jaw  are  lacking. 

Most  of  our  domestic  animals  belong  to  families  in  this  order; 
viz.,  the  Horse  and  Ass  are  members  of  the  family  Equidce;  Swine  of 
the  Suidce;  and  Oxen,  Sheep  and  Goats  belong  to  the  family  Bovidce. 
All  of  these  animals  are  descendants  of  wild  ancestors,  and  the  great 
number  of  so-called  species  or  "breeds"  of  to-day  are  the  result  of 
artificial  selection  and  domestication  for  many  centuries. 


Suborder  ARTIODACTYLA.      Deer,  Oxen,  Sheep,  etc. 

Family    CERVID^.        Deer,     Moose,    Elk, 
Caribou,   etc. 

Antlers,  when  present,  solid  and  branched  in  adult;  upper  canines 
usually  present;  at  least  the  first  molar  in  upper  jaw  brachydont; 
lateral  hoofs  present  in  all  of  our  species,  and  with  rare  exceptions 
in  all  members  of  the  family;  lachrymal  vacuity  large,  preventing 
articulation  of  the  lachrymal  bone  with  the  nasal;  lachrymal  duct 
with  two  orifices.  There  are  two  subfamilies;  Cervince  and  Moschina, 
but  only  the  former  is  represented  in  America.  In  the  various  species 
belonging  to  this  family,  antlers,  when  present,  seem  to  represent  a 
secondary  sexual  character,  as  they  occur  as  a  rule  in  the  male  only.* 
The  Caribou  and  Reindeer  (Rangifer}  are  exceptions,  however,  both 
sexes  usually  having  well  developed  antlers. 

Of  the  thirty  or  more  recognized  species  and  races  of  Cervidce 
which  occur  in  North  America,  only  five  are  represented  within  our 
limits,  and  of  these  only  the  Deer  is  found  in  any  numbers  at  the  present 
time.  The  Elk  or  Wapiti  has  long  since  disappeared ;  the  Moose  and 
Caribou,  if  they  are  to  be  found  at  all,  are  only  of  rare  or  accidental 
occurrence  in  extreme  northern  Wisconsin.  All  the  males,  and  as  has 
already  been  stated  in  the  case  of  the  Caribou  the  females  as  well,  are 
provided  with  antlers,  which  are  solid,  branched  and  deciduous;  that  is 
to  say,  they  are  annually  dropped  and  replaced  by  new  and,  up  to  a 
certain  age,  by  larger  ones,  more  branches  appearing  year  by  year. 
The  antlers  are  usually  dropped  during  March,  but  are  soon  replaced 

*  In  practically  all  of  our  species  the  female  occasionally  has  antlers,  but  such 
cases  are  rare. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY. 


59 


by  new  ones  which  grow  rapidly;  at  first  they  are  soft,  full  of  blood 
vessels,  and  provided  with  a  fur-like  outer  covering  known  as  ''velvet." 
When  full  growth  of  the  antler  is  attained,  a  ring  of  tubercles  appears 
around  the  base,  which  is  known  as  the  "burr."  This  compresses  the 
blood  vessels  and  soon  cuts  off  the  supply  of  blood  to  the  new  antler, 
which  quickly  hardens  and  the  "velvet"  soon  wears  off. 

KEY   TO   GENERA. 

A.  End  of  nose  between  nostrils  almost,  or  entirely,  covered  with  hair. 
End  of  nose  entirely  covered  with  hair;  antlers  palmate  (see  cut  below). 

Genus  RANGIFER,  p.  80. 

End  of  nose  almost  covered  with  hair  (except  a  narrow  slit  of  bare  skin) ;  antlers 
palmate  (see  cut  below).  Genus  PARALCES,  p.  74. 

B.  End  of  nose  between  nostrils  entirely  naked. 

Antlers  not  palmate,  most  of  tines  or  branches  extending  from  front  side  of  horn 
(see  cut).  Genus  CERVUS,  p.  67. 

Antlers  not  palmate,  most  of  tines  or  branches  extending  from  back  side  of  horn 
(see  cut).  Genus  ODOCOILEUS,  p.  60. 

KEY   TO   THE   SPECIES. 

Skull  less  than  12  inches  long;  antlers  (in  male)  less  than  30 
inches  long,  terminal  half  or  more  curved  forward  (in  adult), 
tines  extending  from  back  side  of  antler;  female  without  antlers; 
general  body  color,  reddish  brown  or  grayish  brown. 

VIRGINIA  DEER.    WHITE-TAILED  DEER. 
Odocoileus  virginianus  (Illinois),  p.  60. 
NORTHERN  WHITE-TAILED  DEER. 
Odocoileus  virginianus  borealis  (Wisconsin),  p.  64. 


Skull  more  than  15  inches  long  (average  adult, 
1 8  to  19.50);  antlers  (in  adult)  more  than  36  inches 
long,  bending  backward  and  with  tines  or  branches 
extending  from  front  side  of  antler;  antlers  not 
decidedly  flattened  and  palmate. 

AMERICAN  ELK.     Cervus  canadensis,  p.  67. 


Skull  more  than  15  inches  long  (average  adult, 
16  to  17^  inches);  antlers  large  and  irregular,  most 
of  the  numerous  branches  being  flattened  and 
palmate;  upper  canines  usually  present;  antlers  in 
both  sexes;  end  of  nose  covered  with  hair. 

WOODLAND  CARIBOU.     Rangifer  caribou,  p.  81. 


60      FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 

Skull  more  than  15  inches  long  (average 
adult,  22  to  23  inches);  antlers  heavy,  broad, 
much  flattened  and  largely  in  one  piece,  without 
long  irregular  branches;  tines  extending  in  sim- 
ple points  from  the  edge  of  the  main  part  of  the 
antler;  upper  canines  absent;  female  without 
antlers;  general  body  color,  brownish  black;  end 
of  nose  covered  with  hair  (except  a  narrow  slit 
between  nostrils).  MOOSE. 

Parolees  americanus,  p  74. 


Subfamily   CERVINE. 
Genus  ODOCOILEUS  Rafin. 

Odocoileus  Rafinesque,  Atlantic  Journal,  I,  No.  3,  1832,  p.  109.     Type 
Odocoileus  speleus  Rafin.  =  Cervus  dama  americanus  Erxleben. 

Lateral  hoofs  developed  but  comparatively  small;  terminal  half  of 
antlers  curved  forward,  the  tines  extending  from  back  side  of  antler; 
antlers  (normally)  in  male  only;  upper  canines  absent;  exposed  meta- 
tarsal  gland  on  outer  side  of  leg;  lateral  metacarpals  complete. 

Dental  formula:*  I.  — ,  C.  — ,  Pm.  ^,  M.  ^=32. 
3-3          i-i  3-3          3-3 

Odocoileus  virginianus   (BODD.). 
VIRGINIA  DEER.    WHITE-TAILED  DEER. 

Cervus  virginianus  BODD.,  Elench.  Animal,  I,  1785,  p.  136.     ALLEN,  Proc.  Bost.  Soc. 

Nat.  Hist.,  XIII,  1869  (1871),  p.  186  (Iowa). 
Cervus  Virginianus  KENNICOTT,  Trans.  111.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  I,  1853-54  ^855),  p.  580 

(Cook  Co.,  Illinois). 

Cariacus  virginianus  GARMAN,  Bull.  Essex  Inst.,  XXVI,  1894,  p.  4  (Kentucky). 
Odocoileus  virginianus  ALLEN,  Amer.  Nat.,  XXXIV,  1900,  p.  318.     HAHN,  Proc. 

U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  XXXII,  1907,  p.  456  (Indiana).     Ib.,  Ann.  Kept.  Dept.  Geol. 

Nat.  Resources  Ind.,  1908  (1909),  p.  457  (Indiana). 

Odontoccelus  americanus  ELLIOT,  Field  Mus.  Pub.,  Zool.  Ser.,  VI,  1905,  p.  43. 
Odocoileus  americanus  WOOD,  Bull.  111.  State  Lab.  Nat.  Hist.,  VIII,  1910,  p.  516 

(Illinois). 

Type  locality  —  Virginia. 

Distribution  —  Formerly  middle  United  States,  from  north  of  Florida 

and  the  Gulf  states  to  about  latitude  43,  and  west  to  the  plains; 

beyond  these  limits  slightly  different  geographical  races  occur  (see 

map).     Now  probably  extinct  in  Illinois  and  in  the  more  settled 

portions  of  its  former  range. 

*  Although  having  the  appearance  of  an  incisor,  osteologists  consider  the  fourth 
lateral  incisoform  tooth  to  be  really  a  canine. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.          61 


62       FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 

Description  —  Adult:  Color  of  sexes  similar;  antlers  of  male  as  illus- 
trated, rarely  exceeding  29  inches  in  length  and  usually  less;  in 
summer,  general  color,  reddish  brown;  belly,  under  surface  and  tip 
of  tail,  inner  side  of  legs  and  a  patch  on  the  throat,  white;  a  whitish 
band  across  the  nose  and  a  ring  around  each  eye;  a  blackish  spot  on 
each  side  of  the  chin;  upper  surface  of  tail  dusky;  in  winter,  general 
color  grayish  or  grayish  brown.  Female  normally  without  horns. 

Young:  Reddish  brown  or  bright  bay,  spotted  with  white; 
the  spots  gradually  fade  and  disappear  when  the  fawn  is  between  4 
and  5  months  old. 

Measurements  —  Adult  male:  Length,  about  60  to  68  inches;  tail,  about 
10  inches  (to  end  of  hairs  about  3  inches  more) ;  height  at  shoulder 
variable,  about  36  inches. 

Although  formerly  Deer  were  very  abundant  throughout  Illinois, 
they  are  now  practically  exterminated  in  the  state.  It  is  claimed  that  a 
very  few  still  linger  in  the  extreme  southern  counties.  Mr.  B.  T.  Gault, 
in  a  letter  to  me,  dated  January  20,  1910,  writes:  "In  the  fall  of  1900 
there  were  several  Deer  in  the  hill  country  not  far  from  Thebes,  Alexander 
County  (southern  Illinois),  but  I  have  since  been  told  that  they  have  all 
been  killed  off."  %  He  later  kindly  sent  me  a  letter  from  Mr.  C.  J.  Boyd 
of  Anna,  Illinois,  dated  April  7,  1910,  in  which  he  writes:  "There  are  a 
few  Deer  in  the  hills  in  this  county  and  in  Alexander  County.  It  was 
reported  that  a  doe  and  two  fawns  were  seen  close  to  the  line  of  this 
county  and  Alexander  County  last  summer"  (1909).  Butler  states 
(Proc.  Ind.  Acad.  Sci.,  1895,  p.  83)  that  a  Deer  was  seen  in  Newton 
County,*  Indiana,  in  1891.  Mr.  E.  J.  Chansler  of  Bicknell,  Knox 
County,  Indiana,  writes:  "The  last  wild  Deer  was  reported  from  near 
Red  Cloud  by  the  late  N.  B.  Edwards  in  1893."  This  seems  to  be  the 
last  record  for  that  state. 

In  Wisconsin,  where  Deer  are  still  abundant  in  the  more  northern 
counties,  they  are  larger  and  are  recognized  as  a  distinct  race  (0.  v. 
borealis),  the  difference,  however,  being  mainly  one  of  size. 

In  the  southern  states  two  other  geographical  races  are  recognized, 
the  Louisiana  Deer  and  the  Florida  Deer,  the  latter  being  decidedly 
smaller  than  the  Virginia  Deer,  full  grown  bucks  often  weighing  not 
over  no  pounds.  These,  however,  are  smaller  than  the  average,  and  I 
have  killed  at  least  one  specimen  in  southern  Florida  which  weighed 
more  than  200  pounds. f 

Deer  hunting  is  a  favorite  sport  for  many  people,  and  I  plead  guilty 
of  having  killed  a  considerable  number  in  my  time ;  but  as  we  grow  older 

*  Newton  County,  Indiana,  borders  Illinois  in  the  Kankakee  region. 

t  For  many  years  I  carried  steelyards  with  me  in  the  field  for  the  purpose  of 
weighing  large  game.  One  buck  weighed  204  Ibs.,  and  during  a  dozen  years  I  have 
killed  others  which  I  did  not  weigh  but  which  were  fully  as  large. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.          63 

the  unnecessary  killing  of  harmless  animals  becomes  repugnant  to  us, 
and  I  am  glad  to  say  that  during  the  last  dozen  years  I  have  killed  very 
few  and  only  when  meat  was  needed  in  camp.  Deer  are  usually  hunted 
in  three  ways  (fire  hunting  not  included,  and  being  rarely  indulged  in  by 
true  sportsmen),  (i)  Hunting  them  with  hounds,  the  hunter  stationing 
himself  on  a  runway.  (2)  To  "slow  trail"  them,  a  method  which  is 
largely  followed  in  southern  countries.  A  hound  is  trained  to  follow  a 
trail  slowly  and  without  barking.  He  must  go  slowly  enough  to  enable 
the  hunter  to  keep  within  a  few  yards  of  him.  Sooner  or  later  the  Deer 
is  "jumped,"  usually  within  shooting  distance.  (3)  The  method  known 
as  still  hunting.  To  be  a  successful  "still  hunter"  requires  keen  eye- 
sight combined  with  a  knowledge  of  wood  craft  and  the  habits  and  ways 
of  Deer,  which  few  white  men  possess. 

In  a  comparatively  open  country,  where  Deer  have  not  been  much 
hunted,  one  may  often  approach  within  a  shooting  distance  by  keeping 
to  leeward  of  the  animal  and  creeping  forward  while  it  has  its  head  down 
feeding,  and  remaining  motionless  when  it  lifts  its  head,  which  it  does 
every  few  minutes.  For  some  reason  a  Deer  usually  shakes  his  tail 
before  lifting  his  head.  By  bearing  this  in  mind,  on  one  occasion  I 
approached  within  100  yards  of  a  buck  feeding  in  an  open  prairie  where 
the  grass  was  not  over  12  inches  high.  Once  the  Deer  raised  his  head 
and  looked  directly  at  me  before  I  had  time  to  lie  down  in  the  grass.  I 
remained  perfectly  still  and  after  gazing  at  me  for  a  moment  he  stamped 
once  or  twice,  advanced  a  few  steps  and  stamped  again;  but  after  ex- 
amining me  for  some  time  he  apparently  came  to  the  conclusion  that  I 
was  a  part  of  the  scenery,  or  at  least  some  strange  animal  which  was  not 
dangerous,  whereupon  he  commenced  to  feed  again.  Of  course  this  was 
due  to  the  fact  that  the  wind  was  blowing  from  the  Deer  towards  me ; 
had  it  been  the  other  way,  the  sense  of  smell  is  so  acute  in  these  animals 
that  such  a  near  approach  would  have  been  impossible.  When  fright- 
ened a  Deer  will  usually  utter  a  startled  snort,  which  is  almost  invariably 
given  preliminary  to  flight.  When  running  a  Deer  usually  holds  its 
tail  straight  up  in  the  air,  at  least  for  a  short  distance,  the  white  under 
surface  showing  clearly  as  it  bounds  high  over  the  bushes.  If  it  goes  off 
with  its  tail  down,  it  is  a  pretty  sure  indication  that  it  is  badly  wounded. 

The  antlers  of  the  Virginia  Deer  are  usually  dropped  in  March.  The 
rutting  season  begins  during  the  latter  part  of  October  and  usually  lasts 
until  late  in  November  and  the  majority  of  the  young  are  born  in  May. 
For  the  first  few  days,  until  the  fawn  is  strong  enough  to  follow  her 
about,  the  mother  leaves  it  in  some  concealed  spot  while  she  seeks  her 
food,  returning  from  time  to  time  to  learn  of  its  welfare  and  to  suckle  it. 
I  have  on  several  occasions  found  very  young  fawns  in  the  woods  and 
they  always  lay  perfectly  still  and  permitted  themselves  to  be  handled ; 


64      FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 

but  upon  leaving  them  and  returning  to  the  spot  a  short  time  afterwards, 
they  had  invariably  disappeared.  The  food  of  the  adult  consists  largely 
of  grass  and  the  young  and  tender  leaves  and  buds  of  shrubs  and  trees, 
together  with  aquatic  plants. 

Albinism  occurs  occasionally  in  Deer  as  in  many  other  mammals, 
although  perfectly  white  specimens  are  rare.  The  Field  Museum  col- 
lection contains  a  fine  white  buck  of  the  northern  race  taken  in  Minne- 
sota. 

Odocoileus  virginianus  borealis     (MILLER). 
NORTHERN  WHITE-TAILED  DEER. 

Odocoileus  americanus  borealis  MILLER,  Bull.  N.  Y.  State  Mus.,  VIII,  1900,  p.  83. 
JACKSON,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  VI,  1908,  p.  4  (Wisconsin);  Ib.,  VIII,  1910, 
p.  86  (Wisconsin). 

Odocoileus  virginianus  borealis  ADAMS,  Reot.  State  Board  Geol.  Surv.  Mich.,  1905 
(1906),  p.  128  (Michigan). 

Odocoileus  virginianus  SNYDER,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  II,  1902,  p.  126  (Wiscon- 
sin). 

Cervus  (Cariacus)  virginianus  HERRICK,  Geol.  &  Nat.  Hist.  Surv.  Minn.,  Bull.  No.  7, 
1892,  p.  281  (Minnesota). 

Cervus  Virginianus  LAPHAM,  Trans.  Wis.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  II,  1852  (1853),  p.  337  (Wis- 
consin). STRONG,  Geol.  Wis.,  Surv.  1873-79,  I,  1883?  p.  437  (Wisconsin). 

Cervus  virginianus  MILES,  Geol.  Surv.  Mich.,  1861,  p.  222  (Michigan). 

Type  locality  —  Bucksport,  Maine. 

Distribution  —  Northern  tier  of  United  States  and  southern  Canada, 

west  at  least  to  the  Rocky  Mountains. 
Special  characters  —  Similar  to  O.  virginianus  but  larger,  and  the  general 

color  paler,  or  grayer. 

The  Northern  White-tailed  Deer  is  merely  a  large  and  somewhat 
grayer  race  of  the  Virginia  Deer.  All  Deer  which  occur  in  Wisconsin  at 
the  present  time  probably  belong  to  this  form.  The  average  weight  of  a 
full  grown  buck  may  be  estimated  at  from  200  to  225  Ibs.,  although  Deer 
weighing  300  Ibs.  are  by  no  means  uncommon,  and  Mr.  E.  T.  Seton 
records  one  having  the  unusual  weight  of  400  Ibs.* 

In  northern  Wisconsin  Deer  are  abundant  in  many  localities  and 
large  numbers  are  killed  every  season.  Mr.  W.  L.  Kinney  of  Eagle 
River,  Vilas  County,  informs  me  that  in  November,  1906,  300  dead  Deer 
were  shipped  from  that  station.  Farther  south  they  become  less  com- 
mon, and  in  Jackson,  Munroe,  and  Juneau  counties  they  are  compara- 
tively scarce.  Probably  the  most  southern  limit  of  their  range  in  Wis- 
consin at  the  present  time  is  Sauk  County,  where,  according  to  Mr.  H. 
B.  Quimby  of  Reedsburg,  they  are  still  to  be  found.  Jackson  states  that 
lately  Deer  have  become  quite  abundant  in  Sauk  County,  (/.  c.,  p.  86). 

*  Life  Histories  of  Northern  Animals,  I,  1909,  p.  71. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY. 


In  the  extreme  southern  portion  of  the  state  and  in  the  more  thickly 
settled  districts  they  have  long  since  been  exterminated.  Mr.  N.  Hoi- 
lister  states*  that  Deer  were  abundant  in  Wai  worth  County  up  to 
about  1842,  but  that  none  was  seen  in  that  locality  later  than  1852. 

Specimens  examined  from  Illinois,  Wisconsin  and  adjoining  states: 
Wisconsin  —  Florence  Co.,  16;  (O.)  Iron  Co.,  9;  Vilas  Co.,  6  =  31. 
Minnesota  —  i  (albino) . 


\.  Florence. 
2.  Forest. 
S.  Vilas. 

4.  Oneida. 

5.  Price. 
6..  Iron. 

7.  Ashland. 

(inc.  Apostle  Isls 

8.  Bayfield. 

9.  Douglas. 

10.  Burnett. 

11.  Washburn. 

12.  Sawyer. 

13.  Polk. 

14.  Barren. 

15.  Rusk  or  Gates. 

16.  Taylor. 

17.  Lincoln, 


18.  Langlade. 

19.  Oconto. 

20.  Marinette. 

21.  Door. 

22.  Kewaunee. 

23.  Brown. 

24.  Outagamie. 
.)  25.  Shawano. 

26.  Waupaca. 

27.  Marathon. 

28.  Portage. 

29.  Wood. 

30.  Clark 

31.  Chippewa. 
82.  Eau  Claire 
33.  Dunn. 
j34,  Pepin. 
,35.  St.  Croix. 


36  Pierce. 

37  Buffalo. 

38  Trempealeau 


41 


La  Cross 
Monroe. 


3.  Adams. 
44.  Waushara. 

Marquette 
6.  Green  Lake. 

Fond  du  Lac 

48.  Wini\ebogo. 

49.  Calumet. 

50.  Manitowoc. 

51.  Sheboygan. 

52.  Ozaukee. 

53.  Washington 


f>  1.  Dodge. 

55.  Columbia. 

56.  Sauk. 

57  Richland. 

58.  Vernon. 

59.  Crawford 

60.  Grant. 

61.  Iowa. 

62.  Dane. 

63.  Jefferson. 

64.  Waukestu. 

65.  'Milwaukee. 

66.  Racine. 

67.  Kenosha. 

68.  Walworth 

69.  Rock. 

70.  Green. 
•71.  Lafayette. 


Map  illustrating  approximate  present  range  of  the  Northern  White-tailed  Deer,  O.  t.  borealis,  in 
Wisconsin. 

Prepared  with  the  kind  cooperation  of  63  residents  in  the  different  counties. 

*  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  VI,  1908,  142. 


66      FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 


Map  illustrating  approximate  distribution  of  races  of  the  Virginia  or  White-tailed  Deer  in  eastern 
North  America.  The  central  white  area  indicates  the  portion  of  its  former  range  where  it  is  now  practi- 
cally extinct. 

Odocoileus  virginianus   (BoDD.).     Type  locality  —  Virginia.     Description   as  pre- 
viously given. 

Odocoileus  v.  borealis  (MILLER).     Type  locality  —  Bucksport,  Maine.     Range  and 
description  as  previously  given. 

Odocoileus  v.  macrourus  (RAFIN.).     (Amer.  Month.  Mag.,  I,  1817,  p.  436.)    Type 
locality  —  Plains  of  Kansas  River.     General  color,  paler. 

Odocoileus  v.  louisiana  G.  ALLEN.     (Amer.  Nat.,  XXXV,   1901,  p.  449.)     Type 
locality  —  Mer  Rouge,  Morehouse  Parish,  Louisiana. 
Size  of  virginianus;  color  in  winter,  pale;  skull,  long  and  slender. 

Odocoileus  osceola  (BANGS).     (Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  X,  1896,  p.  26.)     Type  local- 
ity —  Citronelle,  Citrus  Co.,  Florida. 
Decidedly  smaller  than  louisiance,  the  color  darker  and  horns  smaller. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.          67 

Genus  CERVUS  Linn. 

Cervus  Linnaeus,  Syst.  Nat.,  X  ed.,  I,  1758,  p.  66.     Type  Cervus  elaphus 

Linn. 

Size,  large;  upper  canines  usually  present;  antlers,  large,  turned 
backward  with  the  tines  extending  forward;  basal  tines  present  and 
extending  over  forehead ;  antlers  normally  in  male  only ;  lateral  meta- 
carpals  incomplete. 

Dental  formula:    I.  — ->  C.  — -or^-^»  Pm.  ^— ^>  M.  2—2.  =  32  or  34. 
4-4         o-o       o-o  3-3  3-3 

Cervus  canadensis  (ERXLEBEN). 
AMERICAN  ELK.     WAPITI. 

[Cervus  elaphus]  canadensis  ERXLEBEN,  Syst.  Regni  Anim.,  I,  1777,  p.  305. 

Elaphus  Canadensis  LAPHAM,  Trans.  Wis.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  II,  1852  (1853),  p.  340. 
KENNICOTT,  Trans.  111.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  I,  1853-54  (1855),  p.  580  (Cook  Co., 
Illinois). 

Elaphus  canadensis  DE  KAY,  Zoology  of  New  York,  Pt.  I,  Mammalia,  1842,  p.  119. 
AUDUBON  &  BACHMAN,  Quadrupeds  of  N.  Amer.,  II,  1851,  p.  83. 

Cervus  canadensis  MILES,  Rept.  Geol.  Surv.  Mich.,  1860  (1861),  p.  222  (Michigan). 
ALLEN,  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  XIII,  1869  (1871),  p.  184  (Iowa).  CATON, 
Antelope  and  Deer  of  America,  1877,  p.  80  (Illinois).  OSBORN,  Proc,  Iowa 
Acad.  Sci.,  I,  1887-89  (1890),  p.  42  (Iowa).  HERRICK,  Geol.  &  Nat.  Hist.  Surv. 
Minn.,  Bull.  No.  7,  1892,  p.  278  (Minnesota).  GARMAN,  Bull.  Essex  Inst., 
XXVI,  1894,  p.  4  (Kentucky).  RHOADS,  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  1896 
(1897),  p.  180  (Tennessee).  JACKSON,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  VI,  1908,  p. 
15  (Wisconsin).  HOLLISTER,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  VI,  1908,  p.  137  (Wis- 
consin). HAHN,  Ann.  Rept.  Dep.  Geol.  &  Nat.  Resources  Ind.,  1908  (1909), 
p.  454  (Indiana).  F.  E.  WOOD,  Bull.  111.  State  Lab.  Nat.  Hist.,  VIII,  1910,  p. 
515  (Illinois).  N.  A.  WOOD,  Mich.  Geol.  &  Biol.  Surv.  Pub.,  IV,  1911,  p.  309 
(Michigan). 

Cervus  Canadensis  THOMAS,  Trans.  111.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  IV,  1859-60  (1861),  p.  651 
(Illinois).  STRONG,  Geol.  Wis.,  Surv.  1873-79,  I,  1883,  p.  437  (Wisconsin). 
HOY,  Trans.  Wis.  Acad.  Sci.  Arts  &  Letters,  V,  1882,  p.  256  (Wisconsin). 

Type  locality  —  Eastern  Canada. 

Distribution  —  Formerly  throughout  the  greater  portion  of  middle  and 
northern  United  States,  and  in  eastern  Canada  north  to  about  the 
'latitude  of  Montreal;  further  west  its  Canadian  range  extended 
gradually  further  north,  until  in  Alberta  it  reached  at  least  to  lati- 
tude 56°.  At  the  present  time  it  is  found  in  a  wild  state  practically 
only  in  the  Rocky  Mountain  region*  from  Colorado  to  Alberta. 
A  slightly  different  subspecies,  C.  c.  occidentalis,  occurs  in  Wash- 
ington, Oregon,  and  British  Columbia,  and  closely  allied  species  are 
found  in  California  (C.  nannoides)  and  in  the  mountains  of  Arizona 
and  New  Mexico  (C.  merriami). 
*  It  is  claimed  that  a  few  of  these  animals  still  exist  in  northern  Minnesota. 


68      FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.          69 

Description  —  Adult  male:  Legs  very  large,  much  larger  than  a  Virginia 
Deer;  antlers  usually  more  than  40  inches  long,  turned  backward  and 
tines  or  branches  extending  from  front  side  of  antler;  general  body 
color  pale  tawny  brown;  head,  neck  and  chest  dark  brown;  legs 
clove  brown;  a  noticeably  large  yellowish  white  patch  on  rump, 
surrounding  the  tail;  young  with  white  spots. 

Measurements  —  Adults:     Length,   about   7^   to    8    feet;    height   at 
shoulder,  \%  to  $%  feet;  average  weight,  500  to  600  Ibs. 
For  many  years  the  Elk  has  been  extinct  in  Illinois  and  Wisconsin. 

Only  a  few  antlers,  which  are  occasionally  found,  remain  to  mark  the 

presence  within  our  limits  of  this  noble  representative  of  the  Deer 

family  which  was  at  one  time  so  abundant. 

Elk  antlers  may  readily  be  distinguished  from  those  of  our  Deer  by 

the  following  characters: 

Elk  antlers  (adult)  —  Size  large,  more  than  35  inches  long,  turned 
backward,  with  tines  or  branches  extending  from  front  side  of 
antler;  basal  tines  present  and  extending  over  forehead. 
Deer  antlers  (adult)  —  Size  medium,  less  than  30  inches  long,  ter- 
minal half  curved  forward,  the  tines  or  branches  extending  from 
back  side  of  the  antler. 


American  Elk.  Virginia  Deer. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  last  century  Elk  or  Wapiti*  were  common  as 
far  east  as  Virginia  and  New  York,  but  the  march  of  civilization  drove 
them  further  and  further  west  with  constantly  decreasing  numbers. 
Audubon  states  that  there  were  still  a  few  left  in  the  mountains  of 
northwestern  Pennsylvania  as  late  as  1835,  and  they  were  known  to 
exist  in  western  Virginia  in  1847.  They  disappeared  in  New  York  at 
even  an  earlier  date,  the  latest  record  being  given  by  Dr.  De  Kay,  who 

*  Barton  states  that  Wapiti  is  the  name  by  which  this  animal  was  known  to  the 
Shawnee  Indians  (Phila.  Med.  &  Phys.  Journ.,  March,  1806,  p.  37). 


70      FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

states  that  Elk  were  killed  on  the  north  branch  of  the  Saranac  in  New 
York  State  as  late  as  1836  (I.e.,  p.  119). 

Nearly  all  of  the  early  travelers  in  Illinois  refer  to  the  abundance 
of  large  game  including  Elk.  Andr£  Michaux,  writing  of  the  country 
in  the  vicinity  of  Kaskaskia,  Randolph  County,  Illinois  (1793-96),  says, 
"My  guide  killed  an  Elk  called  Cerf  by  the  Canadians  and  French  of 
Illinois.  This  animal  is  much  larger  than  the  dwarf  Deer  of  the  United 
States  of  which  there  is  an  abundance  also  in  the  Illinois  Country  and 
which  the  French  of  those  countries  call  Chevreuil.  Its  antlers  are 
twice  the  size  of  those  of  the  European  Stags."*  Woods  (1822)  states, 
"To  the  north  of  us  [English  Prairie,  Illinois]  there  are  buffaloes  and 
elks,  also  beavers  and  others  on  the  rivers. "f  Caton  writes,  "The  last 
account  I  get  of  their  presence  in  northern  Illinois  was  in  the  year 
1820  or  thereabouts.  In  1818  they  were  not  observed  east  of  the  Illi- 
nois River  and  but  few  were  then  found  on  the  western  bank  of  that 
stream.  An  old  settler  of  high  respectability  assures  me  that  he  saw 
their  tracks  in  the  forest  north  of  Peoria  in  1829  but  did  not  see  the 
animals."  (I.e.,  p.  86)  Kennicott  in  his  "Animals  observed  in  Cook 
County,  Illinois,"  says,  "  Several  elks  have  been  shot  in  the  county." 
(l.c.,  p.  580) 

In  southern  Illinois  they  are  claimed  to  have  been  common  about 
1820.  -Mr.  E.  J.  Chansler  of  Bicknell,  Knox  County,  Indiana,  writes: 
"The  last  wild  Elk  killed  in  Knox  County  in  Indiana,  so  far  as  I 
know  was  killed  by  George  Yeverbough  in  1829,  near  Pond  Creek.  Mr. 
Ammon  Stafford  saw  the  Elk  and  told  me  about  it.  Mr.  Bradway 
Thompson  told  me  that  he  saw  an  Elk  near  Bruceville,  this  county,  in 
1830.  These  dates  are  reliable  and  so  far  as  I  know  are  the  last  records 
for  the  state,  although  Mr.  I.  N.  Gilmore  says  he  saw  an  Elk  in  1850. 
This  was  perhaps  a  stray  tame  Elk." 

In  Wisconsin  it  was  apparently  found  much  later.  Dr.  Hoy  writes 
(1882),  "Elk,  Cervus  Canadensis,  were  on  Hay  River  in  1863  and  I  have 
but  little  doubt  that  a  few  still  linger  with  us.  The  next  to  follow  the 
buffalo,  antelope  and  reindeer"  (I.e.,  p.  256).  Strong  says  (1883), 
"Occurs  very  rarely  in  northern  and  central  Wisconsin.  It  was  for- 
merly quite  numerous,  but  is  now  almost  extinct"  (I.e.,  p.  437). 
Brayton  states  on  the  authority  of  B.  H.  Van  Vleck  that  in  1882  Elk 
were  still  found  in  the  vicinity  of  Green  Bay,  Wisconsin. J 

In  Michigan,  according  to  Miles,  Elk  were  numerous  in  the  eastern 
part  of  the  state  as  late  as  1860.  He  says:  "The  Elk  is  found  in  abun- 

*  Michaux,  Andrei  Travels  into  Kentucky,  1795-1796.  (Translation  in 
Thwaites's  Early  Western  Travels,  III,  1904,  p.  73.) 

t  Woods,  J.  Two  Years'  Residence  in  the  Settlement  on  English  Prairie  in  the 
Illinois  Country,  1820-1821  (1822),  p.  194. 

t  Rept.  Geol.  Surv.  Ohio,  IV,  Pt.  i,  Zool.,  1882,  p.  80. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.          71 

dance  in  the  counties  of  Huron  and  Sanilac  about  the  head  waters  of  the 
Cass  River.  The  unrelenting  pursuit  of  hunters  by  means  of  the  rifle 
and  trap  pens  will  soon  exterminate  it,  unless  means  are  taken  to  pre- 
vent an  indiscriminate  slaughter  at  all  seasons  of  the  year"  (I.e.,  p.  222, 
foot  note).  Wood  says  "Mr.  Fittenger  informed  us  that  in  1856  the 
Elk  was  not  uncommonly  found  on  Sand  Point  (Saginaw  Bay)  and  that 
he  shot  a  specimen  on  the  shore  of  Mud  Lake  (at  the  base  of  the  Point) 
in  September  of  that  year"  (I.e.,  p.  309). 

In  Minnesota  Elk  were  at  one  time  very  numerous  and  it  is 
claimed  that  a  few  individuals  still  exist  in  the  extreme  northern  part 
of  the  state.  Herrick  states  that  as  late  as  1885  the  Indians  occa- 
sionally succeeded  in  killing  one  in  the  region  north  of  Lake  Superior, 
and  he  was  informed  that  in  that  year  they  were  found  about  Red 
Lake  (I.e.,  p.  280). 

Even  at  the  present  time  Elk  antlers  are  occasionally  found  within 
our  limits,  usually  in  ponds  or  buried  in  marshy  ground.  I  am  informed 
that  some  years  ago  a  good  pair  was  found  in  Fox  Lake,  Illinois,  and 
Mr.  Paul  Hohnheiser  of  Wausau,  Wisconsin,  writes  me  he  has  a  large 
pair  of  Elk  antlers  found  in  a  lake  in  that  vicinity,  which  measures 
45  inches  in  length.  Mr.  Jacob  Bream  of  Cream,  Buffalo  County, 
Wisconsin,  writes  me  that  in  1870  he  found  a  pair  of  Elk  antlers  with  the 
skull,  in  Township  22,  Range  n,  West.  The  spread  of  the  antlers  was 
about  4  feet.  Jackson  states  he  has  examined  antlers  found  in  Ashland 
and  Iron  counties,  Wisconsin  (I.e.,  p.  15).  Hollister  says:  "Sections 
of  antlers  are  still  occasionally  found  in  Walworth  County,  most  fre- 
quently under  marshy  ground.  A  fine  pair  was  taken  from  Delavan 
Lake  some  years  ago"  (I.e.,  p.  137).  Mr.  H.  L.  Ward  records  a  pair 
of  antlers  in  the  Milwaukee  Public  Museum,  which  wac  found  by  Mr. 
Frank  Clark  in  Pewaukee,  in  1899.* 

Elk  are  gregarious  animals,  being  found  in  large  herds,  especially  in 
winter.  In  summer  the  herds  are  much  smaller,  the  animals  being 
scattered  in  wandering  bands  over  a  much  larger  territory.  They 
prefer  a  forested  country,  and  in  a  mountainous  region  during  the  warm 
season  they  frequent  the  higher  ranges  where  spruce  and  pine  abound; 
but  at  the  approach  of  cold  weather,  when  the  snow  begins  to  get  deep, 
they  descend  to  lower  levels  and  pass  the  winter  in  the  valleys  and  foot- 
hills. They  are  promiscuous  vegetable  feeders  when  hungry,  but  they 
much  prefer  the  leaves  and  buds  of  deciduous  trees  and  shrubs.  Elk 
are  polygamous  and  during  the  rutting  season  in  September  and  early 
October  the  bulls  fight  savagely  for  the  possession  of  the  females.  In 
these  combats  they  use  their  antlers,f  sometimes  with  serious  results; 

*  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  VI,  1908,  p.  146. 

t  In  attacking  a  dog  an  Elk  will  very  often  attempt  to  strike  him  with  his  feet. 


72       FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 

but  generally  the  vanquished  is  but  slightly  injured  and  goes  away  in 
search  of  other  cows  which  by  chance  may  be  husbandless  or  at  least 
are  guarded  by  a  bull  less  powerful  than  himself. 

One  old  and  lusty  bull  will  appropriate  for  his  harem  as  many  cows 
as  he  can  get  and  will  attack  and  drive  away  any  presumptuous  young 
bull  which  has  the  temerity  to  approach  them.  If,  however,  the  battle 
results  disastrously  to  the  reigning  lord  of  the  herd,  his  conqueror  will 
immediately  take  charge  of  the  family  of  cows,  who  accept  him  as  a 
matter  of  course.  During  the  rutting  season  (and  occasionally  at  other 
times)  the  bulls  utter  their  "bugle"  cry.  It  begins  with  a  low  roaring 
sound,  rising  to  a  shrill,  screaming,  double-toned  whistle  and  ends  with  a 
series  of  loud  grunts.  The  cry  of  the  cow  is  penetrating  and  high,  and 
may  be  crudely  described  as  a  squeal. 

The  majority  of  the  young  are  born  late  in  May  or  early  in  June  but 
occasionally  much  later.  On  two  occasions  I  have  found  newly  born 
young  in  August.  The  number  at  a  birth  is  usually  one,  sometimes  two, 
and  according  to  some  authorities,  rarely  three.  For  a  few  days  after 
birth,  or  until  it  has  become  quite  strong  and  active,  the  little  Elk  calf  is 
left  concealed  under  bushes  or  high  grass  by  the  mother,  who  returns 
to  it  from  time  to  time  to  suckle  and  care  for  it.  On  several  occasions 
I  have  found  young  Elk  thus  hidden,  which  were  certainly  not  more  than 
a  day  or  two  old.  Those  which  I  have  found  would  remain  perfectly 
quiet  and  permit  themselves  to  be  stroked,  but  if  lifted  from  the  ground 
would  usually  struggle  and  "bleat "  loudly.  Young  animals  are  spotted 
with  white,  but  the  spots  fade  and  disappear  when  they  are  about  12 
weeks  old. 

The  size  of  the  antlers  and  number  of  points  vary  more  or  less  in 
different  animals  of  the  same  age.  One  bull  born  in  my  Park*,  when  8 
years  old,  had  a  fine  pair  of  antlers  having  14  points,  while  another  9 
years  old  had  but  13.  According  to  my  notes  the  annual  increase  in 
size  and  number  of  points  of  the  antlers  of  the  latter  bull  were  as  follows : 
Summer  of  birth,  o;  2nd  year,  spikes  (not  branched);  3rd  year,  4  points 
on  each  an  tier  =  8;  4th  year,  like  3rd  year  but  a  small  extra  point  on  left 
antler,  9  points  in  all;  5th  year,  6  points  on  each  antler  =  12;  6th  year,  no 
record,  one  horn  having  been  broken;  7th  year,  12  points,  6  on  each 
antler;  8th  year,  7  points  on  one  antler  and  6  on  the  other;  gth  year,  the 
same  number  of  points,  but  horns  somewhat  larger  and  heavier  and 

*  For  many  years  the  writer  had  a  small  herd  of  Elk  on  his  country  estate  at 
Great  Island  near  Hyannis,  Massachusetts.  The  animals  lived  in  a  semiferal  state, 
being  confined  in  a  wooded  park  having  an  area  of  about  175  acres.  In  1901  the 
herd  numbered  12  animals,  including  3  bulls,  7  cows,  and  2  calves,  having  increased 
from  2  bulls  and  4  cows  in  1890.  In  addition  to  those  living  in  1901,  4  bulls,  2  cows, 
and  several  calves  had  died  or  been  killed  (2  dead  calves  were  found  but  there  is  no 
doubt  there  were  others). 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.          73 

upper  tines  differing  more  or  less  in  shape  from  those  of  previous  year. 
This  animal  was  then  killed,  as  he  had  become  very  ugly  and  bold. 

Antlers  measuring  from  50  to  55  inches  may  be  considered  the 
average  length  of  a  good  pair  of  an  old  bull,  but  up  to  58  inches  is  not 
unusual.  The  largest  known  Elk  antlers  are  those  recorded  by  Mr. 
Seton,  measuring  64  and  66  inches  long.* 

The  name  Elk  is  used  for  the  European  cousin  of  our  Moose  which, 
it  is  needless  to  say, is  a  very  different  animal  from  our  "Elk."  The 
common  use  of  the  name  for  both  species  is  sometimes  confusing,  but 
there  appears  to  be  little  chance  of  a  new  name  being  accepted  for  either. 


Map  illustrating  the  supposed  former  and  the  present  range  of  the  American  Elk  or  Wapit 
(Cervus  canodensis)  in  eastern  North  America.  The  species  probably  no  longer  exists  in  a  wild  state 
east  of  Minnesota,  and  in  the  localities  where  it  is  still  to  be  found  in  the  West  its  numbers  are 
rapidly  decreasing.  In  western  Canada  its  former  range  extended  northward  at  least  to  latitude  56°. 
Other  slightly  different  species  occur  on  the  Pacific  Coast  and  in  Arizona. 

In  1909  Mr.  Ernest  Thompson  Seton  estimated  the  number  of  living  Elk  in  North  America  to  be 
about  45,650,  distributed  as  follows:  Yellowstone  Park,  20,000;  Wyoming  (outside  the  Park).  5,000; 
Manatoba,  5,000;  Idaho,  5,000;  Montana,  4.000;  Vancouver  Island,  2,000;  Washington,  1,500;  Alberta, 
1,000;  Saskatchewan,  500;  Oregon,  200;  California,  200;  British  Columbia,  200;  Minnesota,  50;  in 
various  zoos,  parks,  etc.,  i.ooo.  (Life  Histories  of  Northern  Animals,  I,  1909.  p.  48.) 

This  map  is  largely  copied  from  that  given  by  Mr.  E.  T.  Seton  in  his  Life  Histories  of  Northern 
Animals,  with  some  slight  changes  based  upon  records  and  notes  of  the  author. 

*  Life  Histories  of  Northern  Animals,  I,  1909,  p.  58. 


74      FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

The  Indian  name,  Wapiti,  for  our  Elk  (Cervus  canadensis)  ,  would  be 
distinctive,  but  there  is  little  likelihood  that  it  will  ever  be  popularly 
used. 

Many  statements  by  ancient  writers  concerning  animal  biography 
are  amusing,  being  undoubtedly  derived  from  current  popular  traditions 
and  tales  of  hunters  and  travelers.  In  their  accounts  of  various  species 
much  space  is  usually  devoted  to  describing  the  supposed  medicinal  or 
curative  powers  of  different  parts  of  the  animals.  In  this  connection 
we  are  informed  that  the  hoofs  of  members  of  the  Deer  family  are  of 
value  in  the  treatment  of  epilepsy,  the  left  hind  foot  being  especially 
recommended.  Birt  says:  "Ancient  authors  relate  that  the  Northern 
People  catch  the  Elk  by  watching  the  Opportunity  when  it  falls  down  of 
the  Epilepsy,  and  laying  hold  of  it  before  it  recovers  Strength  enough 
to  put  its  left  hind  Foot  in  its  left  Ear,  which  cures  it  immediately;  and 
it  is  that  particular  Hoof,  forsooth,  which  is  the  applauded  Remedy  for 
the  Falling  Sickness."  (Wonders  of  Nature  and  Art,  II,  1750,  p.  114.) 

Genus  PARALCES  Allen. 

Parolees  Allen,  Bull.  Amer.  Mus.  Nat.  Hist.,  XVI,  1902,  p.  160.     Type 

Cervus  dices  Linn. 

Size  large;  antlers  broadly  palmate;  no  metatarsal  gland;  tarsal 
gland  small;  tail  short;  muzzle  long,  broad  and  overhanging;  end  of 
nose  covered  with  hair  except  a  small  triangular  bare  space  between 
lower  portion  of  nostrils;  a  pendulous  growth  of  skin  and  long  hair  on 
the  throat;  main  hoofs  long  and  pointed;  lateral  hoofs  comparatively 
well  developed. 

Dental  formula:    I    —  ->    C.  —  ->    Pm.  ^-^>    M. 
-  -  - 


4-4  o-o  3-3  3-3 

Paralces  americanus  (CLINTON). 
MOOSE. 

Cervus  americanus  CLINTON,*  Letters  on  Nat.  Hist.  &  Int.  Resources  of  N.  Y.,  1822, 

P-  193- 
Alces  americanus    JARDIN,  in  Nat.  Library,  XXI,  1835,  p.  125.    MILES,  Rept.  Geol. 

Surv.  Mich.,  1860  (1861),  p.  222   (Michigan).      HERRICK,   Geol.   &   Nat.  Hist. 

Surv.  Minn.,  Bull.  No.  7,  1892,  p.  270  (Minnesota). 
Cervus  alces    LAPHAM,  Trans.  Wis.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  II,  1852  (1853),  p.  340  (Wis- 

consin).    STRONG,  Geol.  Wis.,  Surv.  1873-79,  I,  1883,  p.  437  (Wisconsin). 
Alee  Americanus  HOY,  Trans.  Wis.  Acad.  Sci.  Arts  &  Letters,  V,  1882,  p.  256  (Wis- 

consin). 
Alee  americanus  HOLLISTER,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  VI,  1908,  p.  138  (Wisconsin). 

*See  Osgood,  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XV,  1902,  p.  87 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.          75 

Moose  (Alee)  ADAMS,  Rept.  State  Board  Geol.  Surv.  Mich.,  1905  (1906),  p.  131 
(Michigan). 

Type  locality  —  North  America. 

Distribution  —  British  America  and  in  Maine,  Minnesota,  and  the  Rocky 
Mountains  from  Wyoming  northward ;  casual  or  accidental  elsewhere 
in  extreme  northern  United  States,  formerly  considerably  further 
south;*  replaced  in  Alaska  by  another  and  larger  species. 

Description  —  Adult  male  in  winter:  Antlers  very  large  and  broadly 
palmate;  general  color  of  hair  blackish  or  blackish  brown;  under 
parts  blackish  brown,  except  lower  belly,  which  is  pale  brownish 
gray;  inside  and  entire  lower  portion  of  legs  brownish  gray;  more  or 
less  gray  on  muzzle;  tail  very  short,  black,  tipped  with  a  few  gray 
hairs;  dewlapf  (a  pendulous  "bell"  hanging  from  the  neck)  black; 
end  of  nose  between  nostrils  almost  entirely  covered  with  hair  except 
a  very  narrow  triangular  bare  space. 

Adult  female:     Similar  but  smaller  and  without  antlers;  "bell" 
present  but  small. 

In  summer:     Rather  lighter  in  color  and  legs  tawny  gray.     The 
young  is  reddish  brown  without  spots. 

Measurements  —  Length,  8^2  to  9  feet;  tail  2^  inches;  height  at 
shoulder,  $%.  to  6>£  feet;  average  spread  of  antlers  in  adult,  52 
to  58  inches;  length  of  antlers,  40  to  45  inches. 

Moose  were  abundant  in  Wisconsin  up  to  the  middle  of  the  last 
century,  and  more  or  less  common  in  a  few  localities  at  a  much  later 
date.  It  is  not  unlikely  that  even  at  the  present  time  one  or  two  in- 
dividuals may  still  be  found  in  the  extreme  northwestern  part  of  the 
state. 

In  1 88 1  Dr.  Hoy  writes,  "Moose,  Alee   Americanus,  continue  to 

*  There  is  little  doubt  that  in  the  early  part  of  the  i8th  century  the  range  of  the 
Moose  extended  in  New  England  at  least  so  far  south  as  Massachusetts  and  possibly 
northern  Pennsylvania.  Catesby  estimates  the  southern  limit  of  its  range  to  have 
been  about  latitude  40°,  but  his  opinion  was  based  upon  hearsay  evidence  and  is  of 
little  value  (Nat.  Hist.  Carolina,  II,  1743,  p.  xxvii).  Several  ancient  writers 
state  that  Moose  were  common  in  New  England,  but  with  few  exceptions  they  are  not 
specific  as  to  localities.  Paul  Dudley,  however,  says,  "A  few  years  since  a  Gentle- 
man surprised  one  of  these  black  Moose  in  his  Grounds  within  two  miles  of  Boston; 
it  proved  a  Doe  or  Hind  of  the  fourth  year;  after  she  was  dead,  they  measured  her 
upon  the  Ground,  from  the  Nose  to  the  Tail,  between  ten  and  eleven  Feet,  She 
wanted  an  Inch  of  seven  Foot  in  height."  (Phil.  Trans.,  XXXI,  No.  386,  1721,  p. 
166.)  Wm.  Wood  also  informs  us  that  "There  be  not  many  of  these  in  Massa- 
chusetts Bay,  but  forty  miles  to  the  northeast  there  be  great  store  of  them"  (New 
England's  Prospect,  1634).  It  is  claimed  that  Moose  antlers  were  found  in  a  salt 
lick  in  northern  Pennsylvania  in  the  Alleghany  Mountains  near  the  New  York  state 
line  (Doughty's  Cabinet  Nat.  Hist.  I,  1830,  p.  281). 

t  The  bell  varies  in  length  but  is  usually  from  8  to  12  inches.  Mr.  E.  T.  Seton 
records  a  freak  specimen  having  a  bell  38  inches  long  (Life  Hist,  of  Northern  Animals, 
I,  1909,  p-  163). 


76       FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.          77 

inhabit  the  northern  part  of  the  state,  where  they  still  range  in  spite 
of  persecution.  A  fine  cow  moose  was  shot  near  the  line  of  the  Wis- 
consin Central  Railway  in  December,  1877"  (/.  c.,  p.  256).  Strong 
says,  "Found  very  rarely  in  hardwood  timber  in  northern  Wisconsin. 
It  is  rapidly  becoming  extinct  in  the  state"  (/.  c.,  p.  437).  In  a  letter 
dated  January  2,  1910,  Mr.  N.  Lucins,  Jr.,  of  Solon  Springs,  Douglas 
County,  writes,  "Three  Moose  were  killed  in  this  county  in  1886 
and  one  in  1900,  and  there  are  four  or  five  in  this  county  now."  Mr.  J. 
M.  Sayler,  also  of  Solon  Springs,  writes,  "Three  Moose  were  killed  in 
1886  in  Brulee  and  one  about  1900  on  the  St.  Croix."  These  were, 
without  doubt,  the  same  Moose  referred  to  by  Mr.  Lucins.  Mr.  George 
W.  Zeon  of  Foxboro,  Douglas  County,  writes,  "Moose  have  been 
killed  in  Douglas  County,  but  not  for  5  years."  Some  years  ago  I 
was  told  by  an  old  hunter,  whose  name  I  have  unfortunately  for- 
gotten, that  in  1885  a  few  Moose  were  to  be  found  in  Burnett,  Doug- 
las and  Bayfield  counties;  this  statement  is  supported  as  regards  the 
latter  by  Mr.  M.  Berg  of  Cable,  who  writes,  "There  was  a  Moose 
killed  here  about  25  years  ago."  Mr.  W.  J.  Webster,  Superintendent 
of  Schools,  Park  Falls,  Wisconsin,  writes  me  that  he  heard  of  Moose 
having  been  killed  in  Price  County  some  years  ago.  Mr.  Dan  Farn- 
ham  of  Manley,  Douglas  County,  writes  me  that -a  Moose  was  killed 
at  a  place  called  Charlie  Brook  in  the  fall  of  1909.  Mr.  John  Chaffey 
of  Chaffey,  Douglas  County,  writes,  "Several  Moose  have  been 
killed  in  Douglas  County.  About  two  years  ago  (1907)  one  was  killed 
in  Township  45,  Range  15,  that  is  a  Moose." 

Mr.  Edward  E.  Kingsford  of  Iron  Mountain,  Michigan,  writes, 
"I  have  never  known  of  but  one  Moose  in  this  part  of  the  country. 
That  was  in  the  fall  of  1882  in  what  is  now  the  northern  part  of  Dick- 
inson County.  We  saw  his  tracks  very  frequently  during  the  winter 
along  with  Deer.  A  few  years  later  a  Moose  was  killed  near  Flood- 
wood  on  the  line  of  the  Milwaukee  &  Northern  Railroad,  then  being 
built.  Moose  were  plenty  20  years  ago  in  northern  Minnesota,  and 
I  think  it  was  in  the  fall  of  1897  that  a  Moose  came  into  the  city  of 
Duluth  and,  after  taking  in  some  of  the  principal  streets,  went  back 
to  the  woods  unmolested." 

The  Moose,  which  is  the  largest  representative  of  the  Deer  Family, 
is  a  huge  animal,  an  adult  bull  often  weighing  twelve  or  thirteen  hun- 
dred pounds,  and  occasionally  more.  It  is  very  shy  and  its  sense  of 
hearing  is  extremely  acute,  rendering  it  a  difficult  animal  to  "still- 
hunt,"  as  it  is  called.  It  has  been  claimed  that  no  one  but  an  Indian 
is  able  to  do  this  successfully.  This  is  not  strictly  true,  but  it  must 
be  admitted  that  very  few  white  hunters  are  as  capable.  A  favorite 


78       FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 

method  of  the  Indian  and  white  hunters  of  the  North  is  known  as 
"Moose  calling",  and  consists  of  imitating  the  call  of  the  cow  Moose 
during  the  rutting  season.  This  may  be  crudely  described  as  a  pro- 
longed Eeooo-yah,  lasting  four  or  five  seconds.  A  cone,  usually  made 
of  birch  bark,  is  used,  resembling  a  small  megaphone.  The  answer 
of  the  male  is  a  short,  loud  grunt,  sometimes  several  in  quick  suc- 
cession. While  the  bull  will  come  from  a  considerable  distance  to  the 
call  of  what  he  considers  to  be  a  female  of  .his  species,  his  sense  of  hear- 
ing and  of  smell  is  so  acute  that  the  slightest  indiscretion  on  the  part 
of  the  hunter  will  send  him  crashing  away  through  the  bushes,  and 
the  hope  of  killing  that  particular  bull  may  be  abandoned.  In  lo- 
calities where  these  animals  are  much  hunted  they  are  exceedingly 
wary  and  difficult  to  approach. 

Captain  Butler,  writing  of  the  Moose  in  the  Peace  River  region, 
says,  "To  hunt  the  moose  requires  years  of  study.  Here  is  the  little 
game  which  his  instinct  teaches  him.  When  the  early  morning  has 
come,  he  begins  to  think  of  lying  down  for  the  day.  He  has  been 
feeding  on  the  gray  and  golden  willow  tops  as  he  walked  leisurely 
along.  His  track  is  marked  in  the  snow  or  soft  clay;  he  carefully 
retraces  his  footsteps,  and  breaking  off  suddenly  to  the  leeward  side, 
lies  down  a  gun  shot  from  his  feeding  track.  He  knows  he  must  get 
the  wind  of  any  one  following  his  trail. 

"In  the  morning  Twa-poos,  or  the  Three  Thumbs,  sets  forth  to 
look  for  a  moose.  He  hits  the  trail  and  follows  it;  every  now  and 
again  he  examines  the  broken  willow  tops  or  the  hoof  marks.  When 
experience  tells  him  that  the  moose  has  been  feeding  here  during  the 
early  night,  Twa-poos  quits  the  trail,  bending  away  in  a  deep  circle 
to  leeward;  stealthily  he  returns  to  the  trail,  and  as  stealthily  bends 
away  again  from  it.  He  makes  as  it  were  the  semicircles  of  the  letter 
B,  supposing  the  perpendicular  line  to  indicate  the  trail  of  the  moose. 
At  each  return  to  it  he  examines  attentively  the  willows,  and  judges 
his  proximity  to  the  game.  At  last  he  is  so  near  that  he  knows  to  an 
absolute  certainty  that  the  moose  is  lying  in  a  thicket  a  little  distance 
ahead.  Now  comes  the  moment  of  caution.  He  divests  himself  of 
every  article  of  clothing  that  might  cause  the  slightest  noise  in  the 
forest,  even  his  moccasins  are  laid  aside,  and  then,  on  a  pointed  toe 
which  a  ballet-girl  might  envy,  he  goes  forward  for  the  last  stalk. 
Every  bush  is  now  scrutinized;  every  thicket  examined.  See  he  stops 
all  at  once!  You  who  follow  him  look,  and  look  in  vain;  you  can  see 
nothing.  He  laughs  to  himself,  and  points  to  yon  willow  covert. 
No,  there  is  nothing  there.  He  noiselessly  cocks  his  gun.  You  look 
again  and  again,  but  you  see  nothing.  Then  Twa-poos  stretches  out 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.          79 


A  record  Head.     Alaskan  Moose.     Collection  of  Field  Museum  of  Natural  History. 

his  hand  and  breaks  a  little  dry  twig  from  an  overhanging  branch. 
In  an  instant  right  in  front,  thirty  or  forty  yards  away,  an  immense 
dark-haired  animal  rises  up  from  the  willows.  He  gives  one  look  in 
your  direction  and  that  look  is  his  last.  Twa-poos  has  fired,  and  the 
moose  is  either  dead  in  his  thicket  or  within  a  hundred  yards  of  it." 

The  so-called  Moose  yards,  made  in  the  deep  snow  in  winter,  are 
simply  irregular  spaces  and  pathways  trampled  down  by  the  animals 
while  seeking  their  food  or  resting  in  some  favorable  locality.  In  the 
summer  season  their  food  consists  of  leaves  and  young  twigs  and  buds, 
and  occasionally  grass  when  they  are  hungry.  They  frequent  ponds 
and  rivers,  especially  during  the  mosquito  season,  and  are  very  fond 
of  aquatic  plants,  preferably  lily  pads. 

A  full  grown  bull  of  this  species  will  stand  over  6  feet  high  at  the 
shoulders  and  the  massive  horns  will  spread  from  60  to  65  inches  (67 
has  been  recorded).  One  killed  by  William  L.  Roberts  of  Springfield, 
Massachusetts,  measured  6  feet  10  inches  in  height;*  another  killed 
by  Carl  Rungius  in  New  Brunswick  is  stated  to  have  measured  7  feet 
at  the  withers,!  and  a  very  large  animal  killed  by  Dr.  Hamilton 
Vreeland  near  Mattawa,  Quebec,  is  claimed  to  have  stood  7  feet  4 
inches  high  at  the  withers. J 

These  animals  must  be  considered  unusually  large  representatives 

*  Forest  &  Stream,  Nov.,  1899,  p.  426. 

t  Hornaday,  Wm.  Amer.  Nat.  Hist.,  1904,  p.  140. 

}  Recreation  Mag.,  Feb.,  1896,  p.  65. 


8o      FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 


Map  showing  supposed  range  of  the  Moose  (Paralces  americanus)  in  eastern  North  America. 
In  early  days  its  range  extended  further  south. 

of  our  eastern  species,  but  the  Alaskan  Moose  is  the  giant  of  its  kind, 
specimens  having  been  killed  having  a  height  of  7  feet  8  inches  at  the 
shoulders  and  with  antlers  spreading  75  inches  or  more.  The  largest 
known  pair  of  antlers  of  an  Alaskan  Moose  is  preserved  in  the  Field 
Museum  collection.  They  measure  78^  inches  in  spread  (it  is  claimed 
that  when  fresh  they  measured  84^2  inches)  and  weigh  93^  pounds. 
Moose  when  not  too  old  are  readily  broken  to  harness  and  are 
natural  trotters  and  easily  managed.  Some  years  ago  I  had  the  pleas- 
ure of  riding  behind  one  on  several  occasions. 


Genus  RANGIFER  Smith. 

Rangifer  H.  Smith,  Griffith's  Cuvier  Animal  Kingd.,  V,  1827,  p.  304. 

Type  Cervus  tarandus  Linn. 

Antlers  present  in  both  sexes;  muzzle  entirely  covered  with  hair; 
hair  on  throat  long,  like  a  mane ;  main  hoofs  rather  slender  and  deeply 
cleft;  lateral  hoofs  elevated  but  well  developed;  upper  canines  often 
present;  antlers  large  and  irregular,  most  of  the  numerous  branches 
being  flattened  and  palmate;  metatarsal  gland  absent;  tarsal  gland 
present;  young  unspotted  or  with  a  few  pale  spots  faintly  indicated 
which  disappear  at  an  early  age.  Species  belonging  to  this  genus  are 
known  as  "Reindeer"  in  Europe. 

3-3 


Dental  formula:  I. >  C. or 

•*  A      A  S^ «, 


Pm. 


4~4 


o— o     o— o 


M.f-f-  34  or  32. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.          81 

Rangifer  caribou  (GMEL.). 
WOODLAND  CARIBOU. 

[Cervus  tarandus]  caribou  GMELIN,  Syst.  Nat.,  I,  1788,  p.  177. 

Rangifer  caribou  AUDUBON  &  BACHMAN,  Quadrupeds  N.  Amer.,  Ill,  1854,  p.  in. 
BAIRD,  Mammals  N.  Amer.,  1857,  p.  633  (Isle  Royale,  Michigan).  MILES, 
Kept.  Geol.  Surv.  Mich.,  1860  (1861),  p.  222  (Michigan).  GILLMAN,  Amer.  Nat., 
VII,  1873,  p.  751  (Isle  Royale,  Michigan).  MILLER,  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat. 
Hist.,  XXVIII,  1897,  p.  40  (North  shore  Lake  Superior).  ADAMS,  Rept.  State 
Board  Geol.  Surv.  Mich.,  1905  (1906),  p.  131  (Michigan).  Ib.,  1908  (1909), 
p.  390  (Isle  Royale,  Michigan). 

Rangifer  tarandus  LAPHAM,  Trans.  Wis.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  II,  1852  (1853),  p.  340 
(Wisconsin).  HERRICK,  Geol.  &  Nat.  Hist.  Surv.  Minn.,  Bull.  No.  7,  1892,  p. 
274  (Minnesota). 

Rangifer  Caribou  HOY,  Trans.  Wis.  Acad.  Sci.  Arts  &  Letters,  V,  1882,  p.  256  (Wis- 
consin). 

Type  locality  —  Eastern  Canada. 

Distribution  —  Wooded  portions  of  British  America  and  northern 
portions  of  Maine,  Montana  and  Minnesota;  formerly  casual  or 
accidental  in  extreme  northern  Michigan  and  Wisconsin. 

Description  —  Adult  male  in  summer:  Antlers  large,  irregular  and 
variable,  the  branches  much  flattened  and  palmate;  nose  entirely 
covered  with  hair;  hair  on  throat  long;  general  color  dark  brown, 
much  paler  on  the  neck;  lower  part  of  abdomen,  inside  of  legs  and 
a  space  above  the  hoofs  white. 

In  winter:  General  color  decidedly  more  gray  and  head 
and  neck  grayish  white.  Female  has  antlers  like  the  male  but 
smaller. 

Measurements  —  Adult  male:  Length,  6  to  6^2  feet;  height  at  shoulder, 
42  to  48  inches;  length  of  antlers,  generally  from  32  to  42  inches. 

There  is  no  reason  to  doubt  the  occurrence  of  the  Woodland  Caribou 
in  early  days  in  northern  Wisconsin,  but  at  the  present  time,  if  it  occurs 
at  all,  it  must  be  considered  as  an  exceedingly  rare  straggler. 

Dr.  Hoy  states:  "The  Woodland  Caribou,  Rangifer  Caribou,  were 
probably  never  numerous  within  the  limits  of  the  state,  a  few,  however, 
were  seen  near  La  Point  in  1840,  none  since"  (I.e.,  p.  256).  Inaletter 
to  me  under  date  of  January  13, 1910,  Mr.  W.  J.  Webster,  Superintendent 
of  Schools,  Park  Falls,  Price  County,  Wisconsin,  writes,  "A  Caribou 
was  killed  in  this  county  near  White  River,  sometimes  called  Wide 
River,  by  a  homesteader  whose  name  I  have  forgotten.  I  think 
that  the  place  was  somewhere  about  ten  miles  southeast  of  Ashland." 

Mr.  R.  E.  Boll  of  Channing,  Dickinson  County,  Michigan  (about 
1 8  miles  from  the  Wisconsin  state  line),  writes,  "A  cow  Caribou  was 


82       FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.          83 

killed  near  Ralph,  Michigan,  in  November,  1905,  about  18  miles  from 
here."  Mr.  E.  G.  Kingsford  of  Iron  Mountain,  Michigan,  writes,  "I 
have  a  fine  pair  of  horns  of  a  Caribou  that  was  killed  near  Lake  Ver- 
million,  St.  Louis  County,  Minnesota,  in  1897,  or  about  that  time,  so 
I  think  there  is  no  reason  why  it  should  not  have  been  found  in  the 
northwestern  part  of  Wisconsin." 

Miles  includes  it  in  his  list  of  Michigan  mammals  and  there  is  no 
question  that  in  early  days  the  species  was  not  uncommon  on  Isle 
Royale.  Baird  and  Gillman  record  it  from  there  and  the  former 
figures  a  pair  of  antlers  found  on  the  Island  (I.e.,  p.  634).  It  is  probable 
that  it  still  occurs  more  or  less  regularly  on  Isle  Royale,  as  Adams 
reports  four  Caribou  having  been  seen  by  trappers  in  that  locality  on 
March  27,  1904;  and  on  April  16,  1905,  nine  were  seen  on  the  ice  near 
Rock  Harbor  (I.e.,  p.  396).  These  animals  had  undoubtedly  crossed 
on  the  ice  from  the  main  land,  as  the  species  is  not  uncommon'  in  parts 
of  northern  Minnesota  and  along  the  north  shore  of  Lake  Superior.* 

The  Woodland  Caribou  is  naturally  a  forest  dweller  frequenting 
the  vicinity  of  water.  During  the  greater  part  of  the  year  it  is  usually 
found  in  small  bands,  and  even  during  the  semiannual  migrations  in 
spring  and  fall,  when  most  of  these  animals  move  north  or  south,  they 
do  not  congregate  in  such  great  herds  as  do  their  northern  congeners. 
It  has  been  claimed  by  several  writers  that  more  than  a  dozen  or  fifteen 
of  these  animals  are  rarely  found  together.  This  is  probably  true  in 
many  localities  where  Caribou  are  comparatively  scarce;  but  the 
statement  can  hardly  be  considered  accurate,  if  applied  to  the  species 
as  a  whole.  Macfarlane  says,  "Herds  of  the  woodland  species  seldom 
exceed  thirty  or  forty  individuals,  except  in  the  autumn,  when  some- 
times a  large  number  congregate  together";!  and  I  have  been  told 
by  old  hunters  that  in  the  vicinity  of  English  River  (north  of  Lake 
Superior)  in  early  days  herds  of  fifty  or  more  were  not  uncommon. 

The  food  of  the  Woodland  Caribou  largely  consists  of  "Caribou 
moss"  (Cladonia)  and  other  lichens,  in  addition  to  which,  in  the  sum- 
mer season,  they  eat  aquatic  plants  and  leaves  and  buds  of  various 
kinds. 

One  or  two  fawns  are  born  late  in  May  or  in  June.  The  young 
when  first  born  are  usually  unspotted,  but  occasionally  have  a  few 
irregular  whitish  spots  on  the  body,  which  are  but  faintly  indicated 
and  disappear  at  an  early  age. 

A  noticeable  peculiarity  of  these  animals  is  the  clicking  sound  made 

*  Miller  states  that  in  1896  Caribou  were  abundant  on  the  north  shore  of  Lake 
Superior;  he  saw  heads,  antlers,  and  jaws  of  these  animals  at  White  River,  Peninsular 
Harbor,  Schrerber,  and  Nepigon  (/.  c.,  p.  40). 

t  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  XXVIII,  1905,  p.  680. 


84      FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 


by  their  ankle  joints  when  in  motion,  and  which  can  be  distinctly 
heard  at  a  distance  of  forty  or  fifty  feet.  When  several  are  moving 
together  the  crackling  sounds  are  continuous. 

In  the  Caribou  the  secondary  hoofs  are  much  larger  and  more 
functional  than  in  others  of  our  Deer  and  play  an  important  part  in 
the  economy  of  the  animal.  Caton  says,  *  "In  traveling  through  the 
snows,  or  soft  marshy  ground,  the  Caribou  throws  his  hind  feet  forward, 
so  as  to  bring  the  leg  into  something  of  a  horizontal  position,  spreads 
wide  his  claws,  and  broad  accessory  hoofs,  and  thus  presents  an  extra- 
ordinary bearing  surface  to  sustain  him  on  the  yielding  ground,  and 
so  he  is  enabled  to  shuffle  along  with  great  rapidity,  where  any  other 
large  quadruped  would  mire  in  a  bog,  or  become  absolutely  snow- 
bound." 

While,  so  far  as  known,  no  attempt  has  been  made  by  our  native 
inhabitants  to  domesticate  these  animals,  the  Old  World  Reindeer 


Rangifer  caribou 


Map  illustrating  the  approximate  range  of  the  Woodland  Caribou  (Rangifer  caribou)  in  eastern 
North  America.  North  of  about  latitude  55°  it  is  replaced  by  R.  arclicus  and  in  New  Foundland  by 
R.  terraenova. 

Rangifer    caribou    (GMEL.).     Type    locality  —  Eastern    Canada.      Description    as 

previously  given. 
Rangifer  terraenova  BANGS.      (Prelim.  Descript.  New  Foundland  Caribou,  Nov.  II, 

1896,  p.  i).    Type  locality  —  Codroy,  New  Foundland.     Paler  than  caribou,  with 

a  whitish  ring  around  the  eye;  antlers  larger  and  heavier. 
Rangifer  arcticus  (RICHARDSON)  (Fauna  Bor.  Amer.,  I,  1829,  p.  241.)  Type  locality  — 

Arctic  Coast  of  America.     Smaller  than  caribou;  paler  and  grayer,  becoming 

whitish  in  winter;  antlers  smaller. 

*  Antelope  and  Deer  of  America,  1877,  p.  90. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.          85 

(Rangifer  tarandus),  a  species  closely  allied  to  our  Caribou,  are  kept 
in  great  herds  by  natives  of  northern  Europe  and  Asia.  In  the  majority 
of  cases  these  herds  number  a  few  hundred,  but  it  is  claimed  among 
the  Koreki  that  herds  of  thirty  and  forty  thousand  are  found. 

Some  years  ago  several  thousand  domesticated  Reindeer  from  East 
Siberia  were  successfully  imported  into  northwest  Alaska  and  distri- 
buted among  the  Eskimos,  where  it  is  hoped  they  will  prove  as  useful 
to  the  inhabitants  of  that  barren  country  as  they  have  for  hundreds 
of  years  to  Old  World  tribes  in  northern  Siberia,  Lapland,  and  else- 
where. What  their  value  has  been  to  them  may  be  estimated  when 
it  is.  known  that  they  depend  largely  upon  the  flesh  of  the  Reindeer 
for  their  food  in  winter.  The  skins  are  used  for  garments  and  a  variety 
of  other  purposes;  even  the  sinews  are  made  into  a  very  serviceable 
strong  thread.  The  living  animal  has  enabled  the  nomadic  tribes  to 
solve  the  problem  of  transportation,  as  the  animals  have  been  trained 
to  carry  burdens  and  to  draw  sleds.  In  addition  to  this  the  milk  of 
the  cow  Reindeer,  while  small  in  quantity,  is  very  rich  and  is  much 
used  in  the  manufacture  of  native  cheese. 

Before  closing  my  remarks  concerning  the  Old  World  Reindeer,  a 
quotation  from  the  pen  of  one  of  the  ancient  writers  may  be  of  interest. 
In  1607  Edward  Topsell  wrote: 

"The  King  of  Swetia  had  ten  of  them  nourished  at  Lappa  which 
he  caused  every  day  to  be  driven  into  the  mountains  into  coldeayer, 
for  they  were  not  able  to  endure  the  heat.  The  mouth  of  this  beast 
is  like  the  mouth  of  a  cow,  they  many  times  come  out  of  Laponia  and 
Swetia,  where  they  are  wonderfuly  anoied  with  wolvs,  but  they  gather 
themselves  together  in  a  ring,  and  so  fight  against  their  enemies  with 
their  homes.  They  are  also  in  their  owne  naturall  countrey  anoied 
with  Goulons,  and  generally  all  beastes  that  live  uppon  the  spoiles  of 
flesh,  are  enemies  unto  them,  and  desire  to  destroy  and  eate  them. 
In  their  pace,  both  slow  and  speedie,  the  Articles  of  their  legs  make 
a  noise  like  the  cracking  of  Nuts.  There  was  one  of  these  beasts 
given  unto  the  Duke  of  Saxony  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1561. 

"In  Scandinavia  they  use  them  for  the  carriadge  of  mettels,  drawing 
of  Chariots  and  riding,  and  the  nerves  of  them  when  they  are  dead 
make  bows,  and  for  want  of  nailes,  they  do  fasten  plankes  and  boords 
togither."* 

*  Historie  of  Foure  Footed  Beastes,  Lond.,  1607,  p.  593. 


86       FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.   4V     87 


Family  BOVID^E.      Bison,  Oxen,  Sheep,  etc. 

Horns  curved  and  cylindrical,  simple  (not  branched),  hollow  and 
permanent  (not  annually  shed),  usually  present  in  both  sexes;  lach- 
rymal bone  almost  always  articulating  with  the  nasal;  no  canine 
teeth  or  incisors  in  upper  jaw ;  canines  in  lower  jaw  resembling  incisors ; 
stomach  divided  into  four  compartments  as  in  most  other  Ruminants ; 
gall  bladder  present;*  lateral  digits  represented  by  "false  hoofs"  or 
absent.  A  widely  distributed  family,  including  the  American  Bison 
or  Buffalo,  Oxen,  Sheep,  Goats,  etc.,  as  well  as  the  true  Antelopes, 
but  not  the  so-called  American  Antelope  or  Pronghorn  which  is  usually 
placed  in  a  family  by  itself. f  Three  subfamilies  are  represented  in 
North  America:  Bison  (Bovinei);  Musk-oxen  (Ovibovind);  and  Moun- 
tain Sheep  and  Goats  (Caprince). 


Genus  BISON  H.  Smith. 

Bison  H.  Smith,  Griffith's  Cuvier  Animal  Kingdom,  V,  1827,  p.  373. 

Type  Bos  bison  Linn. 

Horns  curved  and  cylindrical,  hollow  and  permanent;  body  covered 
with  woolly  hair;  head,  part  of  neck  and  upper  fore  legs  covered  with 
long,  shaggy  hair;  a  "hump"  on  shoulders  due  to  unusually  long 
vertebral  spines  at  that  point;  horns  and  hoofs  black. 

Dental  formula:     I.  — -    C.  — <    Pm.  ^.    M.  —  =  32. 
3-3  i-i  3-3  3-3 

The  living  representatives  of  this  genus  are  the  American  Bison 
and  its  northern  race,  the  Wood  Bison,  together  with  the  European 
Bison  (B.  bonasus},  which  still  exists  in  parts  of  Lithuania,  Roumania, 
and  the  Caucasus. 

Bison  bison  (LINN.). 

AMERICAN  BISON.     BUFFALO. 

[Bos]  bison  LINNAEUS,  Syst.  Nat.,  X  ed.,  1758,  p.  72. 

B[i5ow]  bison  JORDAN,  Man.  Vert.  Anim.,  5th  ed.,  1888,  p.  337. 

Bison  bison  GARMAN,  Bull.  Essex  Inst.,  XXVI,  1894,  p.  4  (Kentucky).     RHOADS, 

Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  1896  (1897),  p.  177  (Tennessee).  OSBORK,  Annals 

of  Iowa,  VI,  1905,  p.  563  (Iowa). 

*  Except  in  Cephalopus. 

t  Dr.  M.  W.  Lyon  considers  the  American  Antelope  to  belong  to  the  family 
Bovidce.  (Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  XXXIV,  1908,  p.  398.) 


88      <FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

Bison  americanus  ALLEN,  Ninth  Ann.  Kept.  U.  S.  Geol.  Surv.,  1875  (1877),  p.  445 
(Illinois,  Wisconsin,  Indiana,  Michigan,  Iowa,  Missouri,  Minnesota,  etc.). 

Bison  Americanus  LAPHAM,  Trans.  Wis.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  II,  1852  (1853),  p.  340 
(Wisconsin).  AUDUBON  &  BACHMAN,  Quadrupeds  of  N.  Amer.,  II,  1854,  p.  32 
(Illinois  and  Indiana).  KENNICOTT,  Trans.  111.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  I,  1853—54 
(J855),  p.  580  (Cook  Co.,  Illinois).  OSBORN,  Proc.  Iowa  Acad.  Sci.,  I,  1887-89 
(1890),  p.  42  (Iowa). 

Bos  Americanus  THOMAS,  Trans.  111.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  IV,  1859-60  (1861),  p.  660 
(Illinois).  HOY,  Trans.  Wis.  Acad.  Sci.  Arts  &  Letters,  V,  1882,  p.  256  (Wis- 
consin) . 

Type  locality  —  Southeastern  United  States. 

Distribution  —  Formerly  ranging  from  Great  Slave  Lake  south  to 
northern  Mexico  and  eastward  throughout  the  greater  part  of  the 
United  States  to  Pennsylvania,  Virginia,  Georgia  and  South  Caro- 
lina ;  now  practically  extinct  except  in  Yellowstone  Park  and  private 
preserves.  A  closely  allied  northern  race  (B.  bison  athabasca) 
still  exists  in  a  wild  state  in  the  Great  Slave  Lake  and  Mackenzie 
regions. 

Description  —  Adult  male:  Horns  black,  curved  outward  and  upward; 
general  color  of  upper  parts,  sides  of  body  and  back  of  hump  pale 
brown;  under  parts  dark  brown;  shoulders,  including  "hump" 
and  upper  neck,  thickly  covered  with  long  brownish  hair;  head, 
neck  and  fore  legs  to  the  knees  covered  with  long,  shaggy,  black- 
ish brown  hair;  feet  black.  Length  about  10  to  n  ft.;  height 
at  shoulder  between  5  and  6  ft.;  weight  about  2,000  Ibs. 

Adult  female:  Smaller;  the  body  somewhat  darker  and  hair 
of  head  and  neck  shorter;  height  at  shoulder  between  4  and  5 
feet;  weight  700  to  1,000  Ibs. 

Young  calves  are  yellowish  brown,  palest  on  the  under 
parts.  The  number  of  calves  at  a  birth  is  usually  one,  rarely  two. 

Of  all  the  countless  numbers  of  Buffalo  which  roamed  throughout 
the  United  States  a  hundred  years  ago,  roughly  estimated  at  from 
40,000,000  to  50,000,000,  only  about  2,000  probably  remain  alive  to-day, 
all  of  which  are  preserved  in  government  reservations  or  in  private 
parks. 

Some  idea  of  the  slaughter  of  these  animals  during  the  last  years, 
when  they  were  still  to  be  found  in  any  numbers,  and  the  rapidity 
with  which  they  disappeared  may  be  gained  from  the  shipments  of 
their  skins  from  stations  on  the  Northern  Pacific  R.R.*:  In  1882, 
200,000;  1883,  40,000;  1884,  300;  1885,  o.  In  1885,  at  almost  every 
town  along  the  line  of  the  road,  great  piles  of  their  bones  were  to  be 

*Hornaday,  W.  T.     Ext.  Amer.  Bison,  1889,  p.  513. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.          89 

seen  piled  up  ready  for  shipment.  At  Billings  alone  I  saw  a  huge 
pile  estimated  at  many  car-loads,  and  it  is  claimed  that  in  that  year 
as  many  as  200  tons  of  bones  were  shipped  by  a  single  firm  in  Miles 
City  to  be  ground  for  manufacture  of  fertilizers. 

In  the  early  seventies  Buffalo  were  still  numerous,  although  in 
greatly  diminishing  numbers,  but  by  1885  very  few  were  left.  In  1888 
I  saw  in  Denver,  Colorado,  eight  fresh  skins  which  it  was  said  were 
killed  in  a  region  called  "Lost  Park,  in  Park  County,  and  the  owner 
claimed  that  there  were  several  more  Buffalo  there  at  that  time,  which 
had  not  been  killed.  This  proved  to  be  the  case  and  it  is  claimed  that 
in  1890  the  herd  numbered  some  twenty  individuals.  They  were 
gradually  killed  off  until  in  the  winter  of  1896-97  there  were  but  four 
left,  two  bulls,  a  cow  and  a  calf.  Mr.  T.  J.  Holland,  State  Game  and 
Fish  Commissioner  for  Colorado,  informs  me  that  these  were  all  killed 
in  Lost  Park  in  February,  1897.  The  skins  and  bones  were  preserved, 
and  in  1910  the  specimens  were  mounted  by  Mr.  J.  C.  Miles  of  Denver, 
and  at  the  present  time  (February,  1911)  are  on  exhibition  in  a  clothing 
store  in  that  city.  According  to  Mr.  E.  T.  Seton*  the  last  record  he 
has  been  able  to  find  is  that  of  four  Buffalo  having  been  killed  in  Texas 
in  1889.  Therefore  it  is  fair  to  assume  that  the  year  1897  saw  the  last 
of  the  Wild  Buffalo  in  the  United  States. 

So  far  as  known  the  first  Buffalo  was  seen  in  a  wild  state  by  a 
European  in  the  year  1530,  when  Cabeca  de  Vaca  met  with  it  in  "  Flor- 
ida, "f  although  a  captive  specimen  in  the  possession  of  Montezuma 
in  Mexico  was  seen  by  Cortez  in  1521.!  According  to  Davis,  C.  de 
Vaca  was  wrecked  at  some  point  on  the  coast  of  Louisiana  and  journeyed 
westward.  §  In  his  journal  he  describes  seeing  Buffalo,  and  we  are  led 
to  infer  that  the  locality  was  somewhere  in  the  southeastern  part  of 
Texas.  He  says,  "Cattle  come  as  far  as  this.  I  have  seen  them 
three  times  and  eaten  of  their  meat.  I  think  they  are  about  the  size 
of  those  of  Spain.  They  have  small  horns  like  those  of  Morocco,  and 
the  hair  long  and  flocky  like  of  the  merino.  Some  are  light  brown 
(pardillas),  and  others  black.  To  my  judgment  the  flesh  is  finer  and 
sweeter  than  that  of  this  country.  The  Indians  make  blankets  of 
those  that  are  not  full-grown,  and  of  the  larger  they  make  shoes  and 
bucklers.  They  come  as  far  as  the  sea-coast  of  Florida,  and  in  a  direc- 

*  Seton,  E.  T.     Life  Histories  of  Northern  Animals,  I,  1909,  p.  296. 

t  French,  B.  F.  Historical  Collections  of  Louisiana,  Part  II,  1846-53,  p.  I. 
(Florida  at  that  time  included  all  the  country  south  of  Virginia  and  westward  to  the 
Spanish  possessions  in  Mexico.) 

%  Solis,  Antonio  de.  Historia  de  la  Conquista  de  Mexico,  1684.  (Edition  of  1724 
quoted  above.) 


go      FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 

tion  from  the  north,  and  range  over  a  district  of  more  than  four  hun- 
dred leagues.  In  the  whole  extent  of  plain  over  which  they  roam,  the 
people  who  live  bordering  upon  it  descend  and  ki]l  them  for  food,  and 
thus  a  great  many  skins  are  scattered  throughout  the  country."*  A 
few  years  later  (1542)  Coronado  saw  vast  herds  of  Buffalo  in  the 
country  bordering  the  upper  Pecos  River  and  observed  them  continually 
during  his  journey  across  the  plains  of  northern  Texas.  Gomara  says, 
"All  that  way  &  plaines  are  as  full  of  crooke-backed  oxen,  as  the  mount- 
aine  Serena  in  Spaine  is  of  sheepe.  .  .  .  These  Oxen  are  of  the 
bignesse  and  colour  of  our  Bulles,  but  their  homes  are  not  so  great. 
They  have  a  great  bunch  upon  their  fore  shoulders,  and  more  haire 
on  their  fore  part  than  on  their  hinder  part:  and  it  is  like  wooll.  They 
have  as  it  were -an  horse-mane  upon  their  backe  bone,  and  much  haire 
and  very  long  from  the  knees  downeward.  They  have  great  tuffes  of 
haire  hanging  downe  their  foreheads,  and  it  seemeth  they  have  beardes, 
because  of  the  great  store  of  haire  hanging  downe  at  their  chinnes 
and  throates.  The  males  have  very  long  tailes,  and  a  great  knobbe 
or  flocke  at  the  end:  so  that  in  some  respect  they  resemble  the  Lion, 
and  in  some  other  the  Camell.  They  push  with  their  homes,  they 
runne,  they  overtake  and  kill  an  horse  when  they  are  in  their  rage  and 
anger.  Finally,  it  is  a  foule  and  fierce  beast  of  countenance  and  forme 

of  bodie."f 

Early  explorers  continually  refer  to  the  vast  numbers  of  Buffalo 
in  Illinois.  The  Jesuit  missionary,  Father  Marquette,  writes  (1673): 
"Having  descended  the  river  [Mississippi]  as  far  as  41°  28,!  we  find  that 
turkeys  have  taken  the  place  of  game,  and  the  Pisikious  that  of  other 
beasts.  We  call  the  Pisikious  wild  buffaloes,  because  they  very  much 
resemble  our  domestic  oxen;"  and  later  he  adds  "they  graze  upon  the 
banks  of  rivers,  and  I  have  seen  four  hundred  in  a  herd  together.! 
Describing  the  country  bordering  the  Illinois  River,  he  says,  "I  never 
saw  a  more  beautiful  country  than  we  found  on  the  river.  The  prairies 
are  covered  with  buffaloes,  stags,  goats."  ^f 

La  Salle  (1680)  ascended  the  St.  Joseph  River,  crossed  the  portage 
to  the  Kankakee  and  followed  its  course  downward  until  it  joined 
the  north  branch  of  the  Illinois.  He  writes,  "far  and  near  the  prairie 
was  alive  with  buffalo;  now  like  black  specks  dotting  the  distant  swell; 

*Davis's  Translation,  in  his  "Spanish  Conquest  of  New  Mexico,"  1869,  p.  67. 

t  Translation  from  Gomara's  Historia  general  de  las  Indias,  Saragossa,  1552-53, 
cap.  214.  (In  Hakluyt,  R.,  Principal  Navigations,  Voyages,  Traffiques  and  Dis- 
coveries of  the  English  Nation,  III,  1600,  pp.  455-456;  ex.  ed.  1810.) 

|  Not  far  from  Rock  Island,  Illinois. 

§  French,  B.  T.  Historical  collections  of  Louisiana,  Part  II,  1846-53,  p.  285 

1[  French,  B.  F.  /.  c.,  Part  II,  p.  297. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.          91 

now  trampling  by  in  ponderous  columns  or  filing  in  long  lines,  morn- 
ing, noon  and  night,  to  drink  at  the  river  —  wading,  plunging,  and 
snorting  in  the  water;  climbing  the  muddy  shores,  and  staring  with 
wild  eyes  at  the  passing  canoes."* 

Other  Jesuit  missionaries,  including  Marest,  Gravier,  Charlevoix, 
and  Hennepin  have  written  concerning  the  abundance  of  Buffalo 
.observed  by  them  during  their  travels  in  Illinois,  f  Charlevoix  (1721) 
while  crossing  from  St.  Joseph  River  to  the  "Theakiki"  [Kankakeel 


Earliest  known  picture  of  a  Buffalo  as  given  in  Gomara's  Historia  general  de  las  Indias,  1852-53. 

soon  found  them  in  abundance.  He  says,  "The  country  begins  to  be 
fine:  The  meadows  here  extend  beyond  Sight,  in  which  the  Buffalo  go 
in  Kurds  of  2  or  3  hundred.  "J  In  describing  the  country  bordering 
the  Illinois  River  below  the  junction  of  the  Kankakee,  he  says,  "In 
this  Route  we  see  only  vast  Meadows,  with  little  Clusters  of  trees  here 
and  there,  which  seem  to  have  been  planted  by  Hand;  the  Grass  grows 
so  high  in  them,  that  one  might  loose  ones  self  amongst  it;  but  every- 
where we  meet  with  Paths  that  are  as  beaten  as  they  can  be  in  the 
most  populous  Countries;  yet  nothing  passes  through  them  but  Buf- 
faloes, and  from  Time  to  Time  some  Herds  of  Deer  and  some  Roe- 
Bucks.  .  .  .  The  6th  [October,  1721]  we  saw  a  great  Number  of 
Buffaloes  crossing  the  River  in  a  great  Hurry.  "J 

Vaudreuil  describes  the  abundance  of  these  animals  in  the  vicinity 
of  the   Rock  River  in    1718.     From   the  bluffs  along  the  river,  he 

*  Parkman,  Discovery  of  the  Great  West,  Boston,  1869,  p.  204. 
t  Kip,  W.  I.  Early  Jesuit  Missions  in  North  America,  N.  Y.,  1846. 
t  Letters,  Goadby's  Eng.  edit.,  1763,  pp.  280  and  290.  (Copied  from  J.  A.  Allen's 
History  American  Bison,  1877,  p.  501.) 


92       FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

says,  "you  behold  roaming  through  the  prairie  herds  of  Buffalo  of 
Illinois."* 

Hennepin  writes :f  "There  must  be  an  innumerable  quantity  of 
wild  Oxen  in  that  Country,  since  the  Earth  is  cover'd  with  their  Horns. 
The  Miamis  hunt  them  towards  the  latter  end  of  Autumn. 

"We  continu'd  our  Course  upon  this  River  very  near  the  whole 
Month  of  December;  but  toward  the  latter  end  of  the  said  Month,  1679, 
we  arriv'd  at  the  Village  of  the  Illinois,  which  lies  near  one  hundred 
and  thirty  Leagues  from  Fort  Miamis,  on  the  Lake  of  the  Illinois. 
We  suffer 'd  very  much  in  this  Passage,  for  the  Savages  having  set  the 
Herbs  of  the  Plain  on  Fire,  the  wild  Oxen  were  fled  away,  and  so  we 
cou'd  kill  but  one,  and  some  Turkey-Cocks.  God's  Providence 
supported  us  all  the  while;  and  when  we  thought  that  the  Extremities 
we  were  reduced  to,  were  past  all  hope  of  Remedy,  we  found  a  prodigious 
big  wild  Ox  lying  fast  in  the  Mud  of  the  River.  We  kill'd  him,  and  had 
much  ado  to  get  him  out  of  the  Mud."  (p.  113.) 

"These  Oxen  have  fine  Wool  instead  of  Hair,  and  their  Cows  have 
it  longer  than  the  Males;  their  horns  are  almost  black,  and  much  bigger, 
tho'  somewhat  shorter  than  those  of  Europe.  Their  Head  is  of  a  pro- 
digious bigness,  as  well  as  their  Neck,  which  is  very  short,  but  about 
six  Spans  broad :  They  have  a  kind  of  a  Bump  between  the  two  Shoul- 
ders: Their  Legs  are  big  and  short,  covered  with  long  Wool;  and  they 
have  between  the  two  Horns  an  ugly  Bush  of  Hair,  which  falls  upon 
their  Eyes  and  makes  them  look  horrid.  .  .  .  There  is  also  amongst 
them  abundance  of  Stags,  Dears,  and  wild  Goats. "J  (pp.  114-115.) 

Audubon  and  Bachman  say,  "In  the  days  of  our  boyhood  and 
youth  Buffaloes  roamed  over  the  small  and  beautiful  prairies  of  Indiana 
and  Illinois  and  herds  of  them  stalked  through  the  open  woods  of 
Kentucky  and  Tennessee,  but  they  have  dwindled  down  to  a  few 
stragglers,  which  resorted  chiefly  to  the  Barrens  towards  the  years 
1 808  and  1809  and  soon  after  entirely  disappeared.  Their  range  has 
since  that  period  gradually  tended  Westward."  (/.  c.,  p.  36.)  Regard- 
ing its  former  range  the  same  authors  say,  "The  Bison  formerly  existed 

*  New  York  coll.  of  MSS.,  Paris  Doc.,  VII,  p.  890.  (Copied  from  J.  A.  Allen's 
History  American  Bison,  1877,  p.  501.) 

t  Hennepin,  L.     A  New  Discovery  of  a  Vast  Country  in  America,  London,  1698. 

t  Hennepin  makes  numerous  references  to  "Wild  Goats,"  as  on  page  98,  writing 
of  his  travels  along  the  west  shore  of  Lake  Michigan,  he  says,  "Our  Savage  killed 
several  Staggs  and  Wild  Goats,  and  our  Men  a  great  many  Turkey-Cocks  very  fat 
and  big."  Dr.  Hoy  suggests  the  "wild  Goats  "  referred  to  may  have  been  Antelopes 
(Antilocapra  americana) ,  as  at  a  comparatively  recent  date  "Antelopes  were  not 
uncommon  in  southern  Minnesota,  only  40  miles  west  of  the  Mississippi  River." 
It  should  be  borne  in  mind,  however,  that  (/.  c.,  p.  65)  Hennepin  claims  to  have  met 
with  "Wild-Goats"  as  far  east  as  New  York.  Hollister  suggests  (Bull.  Wis.  Nat. 
Hist.  Soc.,  1910,  p.  31)  that  Hennepin's  "wild  Goats"  were  White-tailed  Deer,  but 
this  explanation  is  hardly  satisfactory,  as  Hennepin  expressly  states  that  with  the 
Buffalo  were  "Stags,  Dears  and  wild  Goats." 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  or  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.          93 

in  South  Carolina  on  the  Seaboard  and  we  were  informed  that  from 
the  last  herd  seen  in  that  state  two  were  killed  in  the  vicinity  of  Colum- 
bia. It  thus  appears  that  at  one  period  this  animal  ranged  over  nearly 
the  whole  of  North  America."  (/.  c.,  p.  55.) 

Caton  writes,*  "When  Hennepin  and  Lasalle  first  visited  Illinois 
two  hundred  years  ago,  the  bison  abounded  in  prodigious  numbers, 
although  the  whole  country  was  occupied  by  Indian  tribes  who,  to  a 
great  extent,  lived  upon  them.  For  the  next  hundred  years  but  few 
white  men  visited  the  country  and  scarcely  any  settled  in  it  and  yet  in 
that  time  nearly  all  the  Bison  had  crossed  the  Mississippi  River;  and 
after  a  most  dilligent  research  I  cannot  learn  that  one  has  been  seen 
in  Illinois  for  the  last  85  or  90  years.  The  last  bison  were  observed  in 
Illinois  between  1780  and  1790." 

That  they  were  found  at  a  later  date  than  this  in  Illinois  is  shown 
by  the  statements  of  others. 

Andre  Michaux,  in  writing  of  his  travels  in  southern  Illinois,  (be- 
tween Kaskaskia  and  Fort  Massac)  says,  "The  7th  of  October,  1795, 
my  guide  killed  a  Buffalo  which  he  considered  to  be  about  four  years 
old.  .  .  .  Thursday  the  8th  saw  another  Buffalo  thirty  toises  from  our 

road."f 

Woods  (1822)  refers  to  animals  frequenting  the  salt  licks  at  Birk's 
Prairie,  Illinois,  and  says:  "The  places  were  first  used  by  the  buffaloes, 
that  some  years  ago  used  to  frequent  the  prairies.  A  man,  who  resides 
at  Birk's  Prairie  informed  me,  that  eight  or  nine  years  since,  he  often 
visited  the  Prairies,  as  he  was  then  employed,  with  many  others,  during 
a  war  with  the  Indians,  to  be  on  the  look-out  for  them,  and  then  he 
often  saw  both  elks  and  buffaloes,  but  they  were  not  numerous,  as 
the  country  became  settled,  they  moved  off  to  the  large  prairies  to  the 
north  and  west."J 

At  the  time  of  the  visit  of  Maximilian,  Prince  of  Wied-Neuwied, 
(1832-34)  he  informs  us  that  Buffalo  were  no  longer  to  be  found  in 
southern  Illinois.  He  says,  "The  country  on  the  banks  of  the  Wabash 
is  as  interesting  to  the  zoologist  as  to  the  botanist.  Formerly  there 
were  great  numbers  of  the  bison  or  buffalo  of  the  Anglo-Americans, 
the  elks,  bear,  and  beaver;  but  they  are  now  entirely  extirpated. "§ 

In  Wisconsin  according  to  Dr.  Hoy  it  was  found  at  a  much  later 

*  Antelope  and  Deer  of  America,  1877,  72. 

t  Michaux,  Andr6.  Travels  into  Kentucky,  1795-1796.  (Translation  in 
Thwaites's  Early  Western  Travels,  III,  1904,  p.  73.) 

t  Woods,  J.  Two  Years'  Residence  in  the  Settlement  on  English  Prairie  in  the 
Illinois  Country,  1820-1821  (1822),  pp.  165-166. 

§  Maximilian,  Prince  of  Wied-Neuwied.  Voyage  in  the  interior  of  North 
America,  Lloyd  edition,  1833  (1843),  p.  76. 


94      FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 


date.  He  says:  "When  the  last  buffalo,  Bos  Americanus,  crossed  the 
Mississippi  is  not  precisely  known.  Governor  Dodge  told  me  that 
buffalo  were  killed  on  the  Wisconsin  side  of  the  St.  Croix  river  the 
next  year  after  the  close  of  the  Black  Hawk  war,  which  would  be  in 
J833"  (I-  c.,  p.  256).  Sibley  states  in  Schoolcraft's  Indians  that  two 
Buffalo  were  killed  in  1832  by  Sioux  Indians  on  the  Trempeleau  River 
in  upper  Wisconsin. 

A  letter  received  from  Mr.  E.  J.  Chansler  of  Bicknell,  Knox  County,* 
Indiana,  contains  some  interesting  notes  concerning  the  occurrence  of 
Buffalo  in  that  locality  in  early  days.  He  writes,  "Mr.  John  G.  Bailey 
(ex  County  recorder)  told  me  that  his  grandfather  came  to  Vincennes 
in  1  800  and  that  his  father  was  six  years  old  when  he  came,  and  that  his 
father  could  have  killed  Buffalo  just  east  of  town,  when  he  got  old 
enough  to  hunt,  but  was  afraid  to  shoot  them.  This  would  perhaps 
place  the  last  date  for  Buffalo  in  Knox  County  or  Indiana  at  about 
1810  or  1812. 

"Mr.  Brad  Thompson  told  me  his  father  claims  to  have  seen  Buffalo 
in  1808  in  Knox  County. 

"Mr.  Felix  Boushie  told  me  that  his  wife's  grandfather,  Tony  Rush- 
ville,  killed  a  Buffalo  cow  and  calf  5  miles  south  of  Vincennes  on  the 
Wabash  in  1800. 


Map  illustrating  probable  former  range  of  the  American  Bison  or  Buffalo  (Bison  bison)  in  the 
United  States.  In  western  Canada  its  range  extended  northward  at  least  as  far  as  Great  Slave  Lake. 

Compiled  from  maps  given  by  Dr.  J.  A.  Allen,  monograph  of  the  American  Bison;  Dr.  W.  T. 
Hornaday,  Extermination  of  the  American  Bison;  Mr.  E.  T.  Seton,  Life  Histories  of  Northern  Animals, 
together  with  records  by  various  early  writers. 

*  Knox  County,  Indiana,  is  separated  from  Lawrence  Co.,  Illinois,  by  the  Wabash 
River. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.          95 

"Old  men  tell  me  that  marks  of  the  old  Buffalo  trail  9  miles  south 
of  Vincennes,  where  the  Buffalo  crossed  the  Wabash  River  from  the 
vast  prairies  of  Illinois  en  route  to  the  blue  grass  and  lick  regions  of 
Kentucky,  are  still  visible." 

For  many  years  after  Buffalo  had  disappeared  from  Illinois  and 
Wisconsin  they  were  found  in  considerable  numbers  in  Iowa  and 
Missouri.  Dr.  J.  A.  Allen  states  in  1867  he  was  informed  that  a  few 
still  remained  in  Iowa,  and  that  up  to  that  time  one  or  more  had  been 
killed  every  year  as  far  south  as  Green  County.* 

Farther  west,  however,  at  this  time  great  herds  still  roamed  the 
Plains.  Col.  R.  I.  Dodge,  while  travelling  from  Old  Fort  Zara  to  Fort 
Larned  on  the  Arkansas  River  in  May,  1871,  states  that  for  25  miles 
he  passed  through  an  immense  herd  of  these  animals.  He  says,  "The 
whole  country  appeared  one  mass  of  buffalo,  moving  slowly  to  the  north- 
ward, "f  In  a  letter  to  Dr.  Hornaday,  dated  September  21,  1887,  he 
writes:  "The  great  herd  on  the  Arkansas  through  which  I  passed 
could  not  have  averaged,  at  rest,  over  fifteen  or  twenty  individuals 
to  the  acre,  but  was,  from  my  own  observation,  not  less  than  25  miles 
wide,  and  from  reports  of  hunters  and  others  it  was  about  five  days  in 
passing  a  given  point,  or  not  less  than  50  miles  deep.  From  the  top 
of  Pawnee  Rock  I  could  see  from  6  to  10  miles  in  almost  every  direction. 
This  whole  vast  space  was  covered  with  buffalo,  looking  at  a  distance 
like  one  compact  mass,  the  visual  angle  not  permitting  the  ground  to 
be  seen.  "| 

Hornaday  estimates  that  in  1870,  shortly  after  the  completion  of 
the  Union  Pacific  Railroad,  there  were  about  four  million  Buffalo 
south  of  the  Platte  River  and  probably  one  million  and  a  half  north 
of  it.  He  estimates  that  3,698,730  animals  of  the  Southern  herd 
were  killed  during  the  years  1872,  73,  and  74,  and  of  these,  3,158,730 
were  killed  by  hide  and  meat  hunters,  less  than  half  being  utilized. 
The  Atchison,  Topeka,  and  Sante  Fe  Railroad  carried  in  those  years, 
459,453  hides;  and  other  roads  about  twice  as  many  (/.  c.,  pp.  498-499). 
This  was  the  beginning  of  the  end  and  a  few  years  later  all  that  was  left 
to  mark  the  former  presence  of  the  countless  herds  of  these  splendid 
animals  were  their  whitened  skulls  and  bones  scattered  about  the 
plains. 

*Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  XIII.,  1869  (1871),  p.  1 86. 
t  The  Plains  of  the  Great  West,  1877,  p.  120. 

t  Extermination  of  the  American  Bison,  Rep.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  1887  (1889), 
p.  390. 


96      FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 


Skulls  of  Rodents  (Order  Glires). 

i.  Gray  Squirrel  (Genus  Sciurus);  2,  Varying  Hare  (Genus  Lepus};  3,  Jumping  Mouse  (Genus 
Zapus}\  4,  Pocket  Gopher  (Genus  Geomys);  5,  Brown  Rat  or  House  Rat  (Genus  Epimys);  6,  Porcu- 
pine (Genus  Erethizon).  (About  K  nat.  size.) 


ORDER  GLIRES. 

GNAWING   MAMMALS. 

The  order  Glires,  formerly  known  as  Rodentia,  has  the  distinction 
of  being  the  largest  as  well  as  the  most  widely  distributed  throughout 
the  world.  Its  members  are  characterized  by  strongly  developed 
chisel-like  incisors  in  both  jaws  and  the  absence  of  canine  teeth, 
leaving  a  wide  gap  between  the  large  chisel-shaped  front  teeth  and 
the  "back  teeth."  There  is  a  great  diversity  in  form  and  habits 
among  its  members:  some  are  strictly  terrestrial;  others,  such  as  the 
Muskrat,  are  semi-aquatic,  passing  the  greater  part  of  their  lives  in  the 
water;  others  again  are  arboreal,  such  as  many  of  the  Squirrels.  In 
size  they  vary  from  the  diminutive  Mouse  to  the  South  American 
Capabara  (a  relative  of  our  familiar  Guinea  Pig),  the  giant  of  its 
order,  often  weighing  more  than  100  pounds. 

There  is  also  considerable  variation  in  the  osseus  systems  of  the 
various  families,  as,  for  example,  the  clavicle  (collar  bone)  is  well  devel- 
oped in  the  Sciurida,  but  is  imperfect  or  rudimentary  in  the  Leporida. 
A  zygomatic  arch  is  always  present  but  the  position  of  the  jugal 
therein  is  variable.  In  the  Rats  and  Mice  the  tibia  and  fibula  (lower 
leg  bones)  are  fused  together,  but  are  separate  in  the  Squirrels  and 
Porcupines.  However,  such  variations  would  be  expected  in  animals 
of  such  great  diversity  of  habits,  but  whatever  other  skeletal  differ- 
ences exist  the  dental  characters  are  peculiar  and  diagnostic. 

The  members  of  the  order  are  separated  into  two  suborders:  I, 
Simplicidentata  or  simple  toothed,  Rodents  having  but  2  incisors  in 

the  upper  jaw;  and  II,  Duplicidentata, 
those  which  have  4  incisors  in  the  upper 
jaw,  the  second  pair  being  very  small  and 
placed  directly  behind  the  others.  The 
latter  suborder  contains  but  two  living 
families,  the  Ochotonidce  and  the  Leporida 
in  which  are  included  our  Rabbits  and 

Skull  of  a  Rodent.  -._       ...          _ 

Hares.     No  living  Rodent  has  more  than 

two  lower  incisors,  and  those  belonging  to  the  family  Murida  have 
but  three  cheek  teeth  (molars)  and  apparently  lack  milk  dentition. 
Other  important  characters  for  the  order  are  a  large  ca5cum,  which  is 
nearly  always  present,  testes  abdominal  or  inguinal  and  placenta 
discoidal  and  deciduate.  All  the  members  of  the  order  are  more  or 

97 


98       FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 

less  herbivorous  and  many  of  them  are  practically  omnivorous.  Of 
the  large  number  of  families  belonging  to  this  great  order,  10  are  rep- 
resented in  North  America,  of  which  7  occur  within  our  limits. 

KEY   TO   THE   SUBORDERS  AND    FAMILIES. 
GROUP  1.  Upper  incisors  2  (Suborder  SIMPLICIDENTATA),  p.  98. 

SECTION  1.  Body  largely  covered  with  sharp,   stiff  spines  or  quills   partly 
concealed  by  fur.  Family  ERETHIZONTlD^E. 

American  Porcupines,  p.  253 . 

SECTION  2.  Body  not  largely  covered  with  sharp  quills. 

PART  1.  Tail  broad,  flattened  (paddle  shaped),  naked,  and  scaly;  size  large. 

Family  CASTORID^E.     Beavers,  p.  158. 
PART  2.  Tail  not  broad,  flattened  and  paddle  shaped. 

A.  Hind  legs  and  feet  noticeable  elongated  (kangaroo-like). 
Tail  very  long;  size  small  (about  that  of  a  Mouse). 

Family  ZAPODID^E.     Jumping  Mice,  p.  246. 

B.  Hind  legs  and  feet  ordinary,  not  greatly  elongated, 
bi.  Tail  closely  or  scantily  haired  or  naked. 

Claws  of  fore  feet  not  greatly  elongated;  no  external  cheek  pouches. 

Family  MURID^.     Rats,  Mice,  etc.,  p.  171. 

Claws   of   fore  feet   greatly   elongated;   external    cheek   pouches 

present.  Family  GEOMYID^E.     Pocket  Gophers,  p.  239. 

b2.  Tail  thickly  haired  and  more  or  less  bushy. 

Family  SCIURID^E.     Squirrels,  Woodchucks,  etc.,  p.  98. 

GROUP  2.  Upper  incisors  4,  the  second  pair  much  smaller  and  placed  behind  the 
front  pair.     (Suborder  DUPLICIDENTATA),  p.  258. 
Ears  long;  hind  legs  long.     Family  LEPORID-35.     Hares  and  Rabbits,  p.  259. 


Suborder  SIMPLICIDENTATA. 

Family  SCIURID^.      Squirrels,  Woodchucks, 

etc. 

The  Sciuridce  are  a  highly  specialized  and  widely  distributed  family, 
being  cosmopolitan  with  the  exception  of  the  Australian  region.  Some 
exotic  species  are  highly  colored,  showing  much  red,  orange  and  yellow. 
They  vary  in  size  from  the  diminutive  S.  soricinus  of  Borneo,  which 
is  about  the  size  of  a  Mouse,  to  the  Malayan  species,  S.  bicolor,  which 
is  as  large  as  a  Cat.  A  caecum  is  always  present,  which  in  most  of  our 
species  will  average  from  one-seventh  to  one-ninth  the  length  of  the 
large  intestine. 

Those  which  occur  within  our  limits  differ  greatly  in  form  and 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.          99 

habits,  varying  from  the  arboreal  and  semi-aerial  little  Flying  Squirrel 
to  the  terrestrial  and  burrowing  Woodchuck  or  "Groundhog."  In 
all  the  species  the  lower  leg  bones  are  separate  and  the  skull  shows 
well  marked  post -orbital  processes.  The  tail  is  always  more  or  less 
bushy  (never  bare  or  scaly).  Generally  there  are  two  premolars  on 
each  side  of  the  upper  jaw,  but  the  first  is  always  small  and  often  absent. 
The  molars  are  tuberculate  and  rooted.  Some  species  hibernate  in 
this  latitude  and  some  do  not.  Squirrels'  hair  is  used  in  the  manu- 
facture of  the  so-called  "Camel's  hair"  brushes. 

KEY  TO  THE  GENERA 
IN  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN. 

GROUP  1.  Length  of  body,  without  tail,  (nose  to  root  of  tail)  more  than  14  inches; 

tail  less  than  %  total  length  of  body  and  tail.       Genus  MARMOTA,  p.  150. 

GROUP  2.  Length  of  body,  without  tail,  less  than  14  inches;  tail  X.  or  more,  total 

length  of  body  and  tail. 
SECTION  1.  Back  with  several  distinct  stripes. 

Back  with  four  pale  stripes  and  several  black  ones;  no  rows  of  round  pale 

spots.  Genus  EUTAMIAS,  p.  135. 

Back  with  two  pale  stripes  and  several  black  ones;  no  rows  of  round  pale 

spots.  Genus  TAMIAS,  p.  128. 

Back  with  rows  of  pale,  rounded  spots  down  middle  of  each  dark  stripe. 

Genus  CITELLUS,  p.  137. 
SECTION  2.  Back  without  several  distinct  stripes;  front  and  hind  legs  not 

joined  together  by  a  thickly  furred  expansion  of  loose  skin. 
PART  1.  General  color  largely  gray  or  grayish. 

Hairs  distinctly  vermiculated  with  black;  tail  vertebrae  always  less  than 

6l/2  inches  long.  Genus  CITELLUS,  p.  137. 

Hairs  not  distinctly  vermiculated  with  black;  tail  vertebrae  more  than 

6^  inches  long.  Genus  SCIURUS,  p.  108. 

PART  2.  General  color  largely  red  brown,  tawny  or  yellowish. 

Genus  SCIURUS,  p.  108. 

SECTION  3.  Back  without  distinct  stripes;  front  and  hind  legs  joined  together 
by  an  expansion  of  loose  skin  extending  laterally  from  side  of  body. 

Genus  SCIUROPTERUS,  p.  102. 

KEY  TO   THE  SPECIES. 

GROUP  1.  Length  of  body,  without  tail,  (nose  to  root  of  tail)  more  than  14  inches 

long. 

General  color  grizzly  brown;  feet  brownish  black;  about  size  of  Domestic  Cat 
or  larger.    Occurs  in  Illinois  and  Wisconsin. 

WOODCHUCK,  GROUND  HOG.     Marmota  monax,  p.  150. 

Similar  but  smaller,  and  under  parts  more  rusty  brown.     Occurs  in  extreme 
northern  Wisconsin.  CANADA  WOODCHUCK. 

Marmota  monax  canadensis,  p.  157. 


ioo    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

GROUP  2.  Length  of  body,  without  tail,  (nose  to  root  of  tail)  more  than  8  inches 
but  less  than  14  inches  long. 

SECTION  1.  Back  marked  with  several  distinct  stripes.     Back  striped  and 
spotted.  STRIPED  GROUND  SQUIRREL,  STRIPED  GOPHER. 

Citellus  tridecemlineatus ,  p  138. 

SECTION  2.  Back  not  marked  with  several  distinct  stripes. 

PART  1.    General  color  largely  gray;  under  parts  white  or  whitish. 

Hairs  on  tail  broadly  tipped  with  white;  entire  length,  including  tail 
vertebrae,  16  to  18  inches;  usually  5  cheek  teeth  on  each  side  of  upper 
jaw  (2  premolars  and  3  molars);  front  premolar  very  small  and  not 
always  present;  tail  vertebrae  always  more  than  6^4  inches  long. 
Occurs  within  our  limits  only  in  southern  Illinois. 

SOUTHERN  GRAY  SQUIRREL.     Sciurus  carolinensis,  p.  115. 

Similar  to  preceding  but  slightly  larger;  total  length,  including  tail  verte- 
brae, 1 8  to  20  inches;  tail  vertebrae  always  more  than  6}4  inches  long; 
back  clear  gray,  without  rusty  tinge  in  winter;  usually  5  cheek  teeth 
(2  premolars  and  3  molars)  on  each  side  of  upper  jaw,  but  front  pre- 
molar very  small  and  not  always  present.  Occurs  within  our  limits  in 
northern  Illinois  and  throughout  Wisconsin. 

NORTHERN  GRAY  SQUIRREL. 
Sciurus  carolinensis  leucotis,  p.  116. 

PART  2.  General  color  not  gray;  under  parts  white  or  whitish. 

Upper  parts  and  tail  reddish  brown;  en  tire  length,  including  tail  vertebrae, 
between  12  and  14  inches.  RED  SQUIRREL.  CHICKAREE. 

Sciurus  hudsonicus  loquax,  p.  122. 

PART  3.  General  color  not  gray;  under  parts  not  white  or  whitish. 

General  color  more  or  less  tawny  or  pale  rufous ;  only  4  cheek  teeth  on  each 
side  of  upper  jaw  (i  premolar  and  3  molars);  hairs  on  tail  broadly 
tipped  with  rufous  brown;  nose  to  root  of  tail,  n  to  13  inches;  tail 
vertebrae,  9  to  10  inches;  total  length,  about  21  to  23  inches. 

WESTERN  Fox  SQUIRREL.     Sciurus  niger  rufiventer,  p.  109. 

General  color  grayish  brown;  tail  gray,  marked  with  black,  the  hairs 
tipped  with  white;  nose  to  root  of  tail,  9^2  to  10  inches;  tail  vertebrae, 
5  to  5>£  inches,  always  less  than  6^2  inches  long;  total  length 
about  15  inches.  Lives  in  holes  in  the  ground. 

FRANKLIN'S  GROUND  SQUIRREL.     GRAY  GOPHER. 
Citellus  franklini,  p.  144. 

General  color  black  or  partly  black;  total  length,  including  tail  vertebrae, 

less  than  20  inches;  usually  5  cheek  teeth  on  each  side  of  upper  jaw 

(2  premolars  and  3  molars),  but  front  premolar  very  small  and  not 

always  present.  GRAY  SQUIRREL  (black  phase). 

Sciurus  carolinensis  or  Sciurus  carolinensis  leucotis,  pp.  115-116. 

General  color  black  or  partly  black;  total  length,  including  tail  vertebrae, 
20  or  more  inches;  4  cheek  teeth  on  each  side  of  upper  jaw  (i  premolar 
and  3  molars).  WESTERN  Fox  SQUIRREL  (black  phase). 

Sciurus  niger  rufiventer,  p.  109. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        101 

GROUP  3.  Length  of  body,  without  tail,  (nose  to  root  of  tail)  less  than  8  inches. 
SECTION  1.  Back  marked  with  several  distinct  stripes. 

Back  with  but  2  whitish  stripes  and  5  black  ones;  rump  rufous  chestnut; 
nose  to  root  of  tail,  about  5  inches;  tail  vertebrae,  3  to  3>£  inches. 
Occurs  within  our  limits  from  northern  Illinois  southward. 

CHIPMUNK.     Tamias  strialus,  p.  128. 

Similar  to  preceding  but  somewhat  larger;  general  color  grayer  and  rump 
pale  cinnamon  brown  with  only  a  slight  rusty  tinge;  spaces  between 
black  stripes  on  back  distinctly  grayish  nearly  to  the  rump;  nose.  to. 
root  of  tail,  about  5%  inches;  tail  vertebrae,  about  3^  inches. 
Occurs  in  northern  Illinois  and  northward  throughout  Wisconsin. 

GRAY  CHIPMUNK.     Tamias  striatus  griseus,  p.  130. 

Back  with  4  pale  stripes  and  5  black  ones;  face  with  whitish  stripe  above 
and  below  the  eye;  size  small;  nose  to  root  of  tail,  about  4^  inches; 
tail,  about  3.K  inches.  Occurs  within  our  limits  only  in  northern 
Wisconsin.  LITTLE  CHIPMUNK. 

Eutamias  borealis  neglectus,  p.  135. 

Back  with  alternating  pale  and  dark  brown  stripes,  each  dark  stripe  with 
row  of  pale  rounded  spots  down  the  middle;  nose  to  root  of  tail,  about 
1%  inches;  tail,  about  3K  inches. 

STRIPED  GROUND  SQUIRREL.    STRIPED  GOPHER. 
Citellus  tridecemlineatus,  p.  138. 

SECTION  2.  Back  not  marked  with  several  distinct  stripes. 

PART  1.  Front  and  hind  legs  joined  together  by  thickly  furred  expansion  of 

loose  skin  extending  laterally  from  sides  of  the  body. 
Fur  on  under  parts  entirely  white  to  the  base;  nose  to  root  of  tail  vertebras, 
about  4  inches;   total  length,  about  Q%  inches.     Occurs  throughout 
whole  of  Illinois  and  southern  two-thirds  of  Wisconsin. 

FLYING  SQUIRREL. 
Sciuropterus  volans,  p.  102. 

Similar  to  preceding  but  larger  and  fur  on  under  parts  tipped  with  white, 
but  plumbeous  gray  at  base  instead  of  all  white;  nose  to  root  of  tail, 
about  6^2  inches;  tail  vertebrae,  about  5  inches;  total  length,  about 
\\%  inches.  NORTHERN  FLYING  SQUIRREL. 

Sciuropterus  sabrinus,  p.  106. 

PART  2.  Front  and  hind  legs  not  joined  by  an  expansion  of  loose  skin  extend- 
ing laterally  from  the  body. 

Upper  parts  reddish  brown;  under  parts  white  or  whitish;  upper  surface 
of  tail  reddish  brown,  the  hairs  near  the  end  subterminally  marked 
with  black;  entire  length,  including  tail  vertebrae,  between  12  and  14 
inches.  RED  SQUIRREL.  CHICKAREE. 

Sciurus  hudsonicus  loquax,  p.  122. 


102     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

Subfamily  PTEROMYIN^. 

Genus  SCIUROPTERUS  Cuvier. 
FLYING  SQUIRRELS. 

Sciuropterus  F.  Cuvier,  Dents  du  Mammiferes,   1825,  p.   255.     Type 

Sciurus  volans  Linn. 

Tail  flat,  thickly  haired  laterally;  legs  and  body  connected  by 
loose  skin  which,  when  extended,  becomes  wing-like,  enabling  the 
animal  to  sail  on  a  downward  slant  for  a  considerable  distance;  fur 
very  soft  and  thick;  occipital  region  depressed;  rostrum  short;  infra- 
orbital  foramen  small  and  confined  to  lower  part  of  maxillary;  post- 
orbital  process  narrow  and  pointed  (spine  like);  audital  bullae  large; 
eyes  large.  Two  species  occur  within  our  limits. 

Dental  formula:     L- — -»    C.  — -,    Pm.  - — ->    M.  ^-^=22. 
i-i  o-o  i-i  3-3 

KEY  TO   OUR   SPECIES. 

Total  length  usually  less  than  10  inches;  fur  of  belly  white  to  base. 

SOUTHERN  FLYING  SQUIRREL.     Sciuropterus  volans,  p.  102. 
Total  length  usually  more  than  10  inches;  fur  of  belly  dark  at  base. 

NORTHERN  FLYING  SQUIRREL.     Sciuropterus  sabrinus,  p.  106. 

Subgenus  GLAUCOMYS  Thomas. 

Sciuropterus  volans  (LINN.). 

FLYING  SQUIRREL.     SOUTHERN  FLYING  SQUIRREL. 

[Mus]  volans  LINN.,  Syst.  Nat.,  X  ed,  I,  1758,  p.  63. 

Sciuropterus  volans  JORDAN,  Man.  Vert.  Anim.,  1890,  p.  324.  GARMAN,  Bull.  Essex 
Inst.,  XXVI,  1894,  p.  5  (Kentucky).  EVERMANN  &  BUTLER,  Proc.  Ind.  Acad. 
Sci.,  1893  (1894),  p.  131  (Indiana).  HAHN,  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  XXXII, 
1907,  p.  459  (Illinois).  Ib.,  Ann.  Rept.  Dept.  Geol.  &  Nat.  Resources  Ind.,  1908 
(1909),  p.  485  (Indiana).  OSBORN,  Proc.  Iowa  Acad.  Sci.,  I,  1887-89  (1890), 
p.  43  (Iowa).  RHOADS,  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  1896  (1897),  p.  197  (Ten- 
nessee). SNYDER,  The  Oregon  Naturalist,  IV,  1897,  p.  9  (Wisconsin).  Ib., 
Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  II,  1902,  p.  118  (Dodge  Co.,  Wisconsin).  JACKSON, 
Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XX,  1907,  p.  70  (Missouri).  Ib.,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist. 
Soc.,  VI,  1908,  p.  19  (Wisconsin).  WOOD,  Bull.  111.  State  Lab.  Nat.  Hist., 
VIII,  1910,  p.  533  (Champaign  Co.,  Illinois). 

Sciuropterus  volans  volans  BANGS,  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  X,  1896,  p.  162  (Missouri, 
Indiana,  etc.). 

Sciuropterus  volucella  HERRICK,  Geol.  &  Nat.  Hist.  Surv.  Minn.,  Bull.  No.  7,  1892, 
p.  159  (Minnesota). 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        103 

Pteromys  volucella  AUDUBON  &  BACHMAN,  Quadrupeds  N.  Amer.,  I,  1846,  p.  216. 
LAPHAM,  Trans.  Wis.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  II,  1852  (1853),  p.  339  (Wisconsin). 
KENNICOTT,  Agr.  Rept.  for  1856,  U.  S.  Patent  Office  Rept.,  1857,  p.  69  (Illinois). 
Ib.,  Trans.  111.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  I,  1853-54  (1855),  p.  579  (Cook  Co.,  Illinois). 
ALLEN,  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  XIII,  1869  (1871),  p.  189  (Iowa).  STRONG, 
Geol.  Wis.,  Surv.  1873-79,  I,  1883,  p.  439  (Wisconsin). 

Type  locality  —  Virginia. 

Distribution  —  Southern  New  England  to  northern  Georgia  westward 
(except  in  the  mountains) ;  south  of  the  Great  Lakes  and  north  of 
Alabama  to  Minnesota,  Iowa  and  eastern  Kansas;  replaced  in  the 
South  by  a  slightly  different  race  —  (S.  v.  querceti). 

Special  characters  —  Hair  on  under  parts  entirely  white  to  the  base ; 
fur  very  soft. 

Description  —  In  summer:  Upper  parts  grayish  brown,  more  or  less 
washed  with  russet  brown,  usually  deepest  on  upper  surface  of 
tail ;  greater  portion  of  upper  surface  of  flying  membrane  dark  drab 
brown;  under  surface  of  tail  tawny  or  tawny  white;  rest  of  under 
parts  white;  the  hairs  entirely  white  to  the  bases. 

In  winter:  Similar,  but  the  upper  parts  tinged  with  grayish 
brown. 

Measurements  —  Total  length,  9.25  in.  (234.5  mm.) ;  tail  vertebras,  3.90 
in.  (99.7  mm.);  hind  foot,  1.22  in.  (31.2  mm.). 

This  graceful  little  animal  is  common  in  wooded  districts  through- 
out Illinois  and  the  greater  part  of  Wisconsin,  but  it  is  seldom  seen  on 
account  of  its  nocturnal  habits.  During  the  day  it  sleeps  in  some 
hollow  tree;  but  very  late  in  the  afternoon  it  occasionally,  though  rarely, 
may  be  seen  sailing  through  the  air  on  a  downward  slant,  usually  from 
the  top  of  some  tree  to  the  trunk  or  lower  branches  of  another,  often 
at  a  considerable  distance. 

The  nest  is  in  a  hollow  tree  and  is  composed  of  leaves  and  moss. 
In  the  majority  of  cases  a  hole  formerly  occupied  by  a  woodpecker  is 
used.  The  young  are  from  4  to  6  in  number  and  are  generally  born  in 
April  in  this  latitude.  The  young  Squirrels  make  charming  pets, 
being  very  gentle  and  affectionate. 

In  a  letter  to  Audubon  and  Bachman,  which  is  quoted  by  them,  Mr. 
Gideon  B.  Smith  of  Baltimore  writes  (/.  c.,  p.  220):  "They  are  gre- 
garious, living  together  in  considerable  communities,  and  do  not  object 
to  the  company  of  other  and  even  quite  different  animals.  For  ex- 
ample, I  once  assisted  in  taking  down  an  old  martin-box,  which  had 
been  for  a  great  number  of  years  on  the  top  of  a  venerable  locust  tree 
near  my  house,  and  which  had  some  eight  or  ten  apartments.  As  the 
box  fell  to  the  ground  we  were  surprised  to  see  great  numbers  of  Fly- 


104    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        105 

ing  Squirrels,  screech-owls,  and  leather-winged  Bats  running  from  it. 
We  caught  several  of  each,  and  one  of  the  Flying  Squirrels  was  kept  as 
a  pet  in  a  cage  for  six  months.  The  various  apartments  of  the  box 
were  stored  with  hickory-nuts,  chestnuts,  acorns,  corn,  etc.,  intended 
for  the  winter  supply  of  food.  There  must  have  been  as  many  as 
twenty  Flying  Squirrels  in  the  box,  as  many  bats,  and  we  know  there 
were  six  screech-owls.  The  crevices  of  the  house  were  always  in- 
habited by  Squirrels.  The  docility  of  the  one  we  kept  as  a  pet  was 
remarkable;  although  he  was  never  lively  and  playful  in  the  day-time, 
he  would  permit  himself  to  be  handled  and  spread  out  at  the  pleasure 
of  anyone.  We  frequently  took  him  from  the  cage,  laid  him  on  the 
table  or  on  one  hand,  and  exposed  the  .extension  of  his  skin,  smoothed 
his  fur,  put  him  in  our  pocket  or  bosom,  etc.,  he  pretending  all  the  time 
to  be  asleep." 

Kennicott  says:  "Its  habitat  being  strictly  among  trees,  it  cannot, 
of  course,  abide  on  the  prairies,  nor  is  it  found  generally  in  our  smaller 
prairie  groves ;  though  it  is  as  abundant  in  the  larger  woods  of  Northern 
Illinois  as  elsewhere.  The  Flying  Squirrel  is  as  active  as  the  true 
species,  but  unlike  the  rest  of  the  family,  it  is  nocturnal,  and  does  not 
move  about  by  day,  except  at  times  in  cloudy  weather.  It  prefers 
the  twilight  or  darkness,  when  it  leaves  its  retreat  for  amusement  or 
in  search  of  food,  seldom  travelling  on  the  ground,  but  sailing  grace- 
fully from  tree  to  tree,  running  up  towards  the  top  of  one  and  alighting 
lower  upon  the  trunk  of  another.  It  is  gregarious,  living  in  hollow 
trees  in  large  companies.  It  usually  prevails  in  greater  numbers, 
wherever  found  at  all,  than  is  generally  supposed.  If,  in  passing 
through  the  woods,  anyone  will  strike  the  sides  of  old  hollow  trees, 
he  will  frequently  see  a  number  of  these  singular  and  beautiful  little 
animals  rush  out  of  a  hole  and  sail  off  to  the  neighboring  trees"  (I.  c., 

p,  70-71)- 

When  a  nest  is  found  the  old  ones  are  easily  taken  in  box  traps, 
being  seemingly  very  unsuspicious,  but  without  some  good  reason  for 
so  doing  it  seems  a  pity  to  deprive  such  beautiful  little  animals  of 
their  freedom. 

Flying  Squirrels  are  practically  omnivorous,  as  among  other  things 
they  eat  nuts,  seeds,  insects,  birds'  eggs  and  often  young  birds. 

As  to  whether  the  Flying  Squirrels  hibernate  in  the  strict  sense  of 
the  word  I  am  somewhat  in  doubt,  although  it  is  generally  believed  by 
naturalists  that  they  probably  do,  to  a  more  or  less  degree,  depending 
upon  the  severity  of  the  winter.  It  is  well  known  that  they  remain 
in  their  nests  during  very  cold  weather,  but  their  sleep  is  apparently 
not  very  sound,  for  if  a  tree  in  which  they  have  their  winter  home  be 


io6     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 

struck  a  few  blows  with  a  stick,  they  will  come  out  and  appear  to  be  as 
lively  as  usual. 

In  an  article  in  The  Oregon  Naturalist  Mr.  W.  E.  Snyder  says, 
"I  recall  having  found  (at  Beaver  Darn,  Wisconsin),  in  the  winter  of 
1890,  what  I  consider  almost  a  large  family.  One  side  of  a  large  bun- 
oak  tree  was  dead  while  the  other  was  yet  alive.  The  tree  was  a  hollow 
one.  Breaking  in  the  dead  shell,  I  found  twenty-two  full-grown 
Flying  Squirrels,  Sciuropterus  volans.  Of  course  it  was  several  families 
unjted  as  one,  for  protection  from  the  rigors  of  a  Wisconsin  winter" 
(I.  c.,  p.  9). 

Specimens  examined  from  Illinois,  Wisconsin  and  adjoining  states: 
Illinois  —  Willow  Springs,  i ;  Golconda,  Pope  Co.,  i ;  Warsaw,  Hancock 

Co.,  i;  Olive  Branch,  Alexander  Co.,  1=4. 
Minnesota  —  Aitkin,  Aitkin  Co.,  2. 
Indiana  —  La  Porte,  i ;  Kankakee  marshes,  1  =  2. 
Iowa  —  Knoxville,  i. 

Wisconsin — (M.  P.  M.)  Maiden  Rock,  i;  Rochester,  Racine  Co.,  i; 
Fountain  City,  i;  Pine  Lake,  i;  Elm  Grove,  Waukesha  Co.,  2; 
Burnett  Co.,  i;  Stanley,  i;  Milwaukee,  2;  Milwaukee  Co.,  3;  (O.  C.) 
Nashotah,  Waukesha  Co.,  8;  Delafield,  i;  Pewaukee,  i;  (O.)  Wai- 
worth  Co.,  2  =  25. 

Sciuropterus  sabrinus  (SHAW). 
NORTHERN  FLYING  SQUIRREL. 

Sciurus  sabrinus  SHAW,  Gen.  Zool.,  I,  1801,  p.  157. 

Pteromys  Hudsonicus  STRONG,  Geol.  Wis.,  Surv.  1873-79,  I.  1883,  p.  439  (Wisconsin). 

Sciuropterus  sabrinus  BANGS,  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  X,  1896,  p.  162.     MILLER, 

Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  XXVI,  1897,  p.  34  (Nipigon,  Ontario).     ADAMS, 

Kept.  State  Board  Geol.  Surv.  Mich.,  1905  (1906),  p.  129  (Michigan).     JACKSON, 

Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  VI,  1908,  p.  19  (Wisconsin). 
Pteromys  sabrinus  LAPHAM,  Trans.  Wis.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  II,  1852  (1853),  p.  339 

(Wisconsin). 
Sciuropterus  volucella  hudsonius  MERRIAM,  Mamm.  Adirondack  Reg.,  1886,  p.  206. 

Type  locality  —  Severn  River,  Keewatin,  Canada. 

Distribution  —  Extreme    northern    border    of    eastern    United    States 

northward  (see  map). 
Special  characters  —  Decidedly  larger  than  S.  volans,  and  white  fur  on 

under  parts  plumbeous  gray  at  base,  instead  of  all  white  as  in  that 

species. 
Description  —  In  summer:  Upper  parts  tawny  brown,  strongly  tinged 

with  drab;  cheeks  grayish;  a  narrow  dark  ring  around  the  eye; 

flying  membrane  largely  dark  drab  brown  on  upper  surface;  under 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        107 


Map  illustrating  approximate  distribution  of  Flying  Squirrels  in  eastern  United  States. 
In  the  areas  indicated  by  the  dotted  space  between  the  ranges  given  for  different  races,  either 
or  both  may  occur,  together  with  intermediate  forms. 


Sciuropterus  volans  (LiNN.).  Type  locality  —  Virginia.  Description  as  previously 
given. 

Sciuropterus  v.  querceti  BANGS.  (Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  X,  1896,  p.  166.)  Type 
locality  —  Citronelle,  Citrus  Co.,  Florida.  Similar  to  volans,  but  upper  parts 
more  uniform  russet  and  under  parts  washed  with  russet. 

Sciuropterus  sabrinus  (SHAW).  Type  loc'ality  —  Severn  River,  Keewatin,  Canada. 
Description  given  elsewhere. 

Sciuropterus  s.  macrotis  MEARNS.  (Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  XXI,  1898,  p.  353.) 
Type  locality  —  Hunter  Mountain,  Catskill  Mountains,  Greene  Co.,  New  York. 
Smaller  than  sabrinus,  more  reddish  in  color  and  with  longer  ears. 

Sciuropterus  silus  BANGS.  (Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  X,  1896,  p.  163.)  Type  locality 
—  Katis  Mountain,  White  Sulphur  Springs,  West  Virginia.  Somewhat  re- 
sembles sabrinus,  but  is  darker  and  decidedly  smaller.  Length  of  type  214  mm. 
(about  8^2  inches)  as  given  by  Bangs. 


io8     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

parts  white,  the  hairs  plumbeous  gray  at  base;  under  surface  of  tail 

tawny  or  grayish  according  to  season. 

In  winter:  Upper  parts  tawny  brown  or  pale  cinnamon  brown. 
Measurements  —  Total  length,  about  n  in.  (278.2  mm.);  tail  vertebras, 

1. 12  in.  (130.5  mm.);  hind  foot,  1.45  in.  (37.6  mm.). 

The  habits  of  the  Northern  Flying  Squirrel  are  apparently  similar 
to  its  more  southern  relative  (S.  volans),  with  the  exception  that  it  is 
more  hardy  and  does  not  hibernate  in  winter.  Dr.  C.  Hart  Merriam 
says:  "The  mercury  may  indicate  a  temperature  many  degrees  below 
zero,  or  snow  may  be  falling  in  quantities  sufficient  to  obstruct  the 
vision,  without  seeming  in  any  way  to  dishearten  this  merry  adventurer. 
The  last  rays  of  the  departing  sun  have  scarcely  disappeared  from  the 
western  horizon  before  the  sombre  shades  that  mark  the  approach  of 
winter  night  commence  to  gather  about  the  snow  clad  forest.  Whether 
bright  stars  sparkle  and  shine  through  a  frosty  atmosphere,  or  heavy, 
leaden  clouds  overhang  the  scene,  makes  little  difference  to  the  North- 
ern Flying  Squirrel.  He  emerges  from  his  warm  nest,  takes  a  hasty 
survey  of  the  surroundings  lest  some  wily  owl  should  lurk  hard  by, 
glides  silently  to  a  neighboring  tree,  and  starts  forthwith  upon  his 
nightly  tour  in  quest  of  food  and  sport."  (/.  c.,  p.  206). 

The  young  number  from  3  to  6  and  are  usually  born  late  in  April.. 

Specimens  examined  from  Wisconsin  and  adjoining  states: 
Wisconsin  —  (M.  P.  M.)  Kelly  Brook,  Oconto  Co.,  i.     (O.  C.)  Gor- 
don, Douglas  Co.,  i;  Langlade  Co.,  1  =  3. 
Michigan  —  Champion,  3. 


Subfamily  SCIURIN^E. 
Genus  SCIURUS  Linn. 

Sciurus  Linnaeus,  Syst.  Nat.,  X  ed.,  I,   1758,  p.  63.     Type  Sciurus 

vulgar  is  Linn. 

Tail  long  and  thickly  haired  (bushy);  eyes  large  and  ears  well 
developed;  skull  with  elongated,  pointed  (spine-like),  postorbital  pro- 
cesses; infraorbital  foramen  small  and  confined  to  the  lower  portion 
of  maxillary;  toes  with  claws;  front  toes  5,  four  well  developed  but  the 
fifth  rudimentary,  very  small  and  hardly  noticeable;  anterior  upper 
premolar  when  present  very  small. 

,    i    f  T     I-I       ,->     °~O       T-I          2-2  I-I        ,,     ^-^ 

Denial  formula:     I.  >   C.  >   Pm.  >  or >   M.  * — -=22 

i-i          o-o  i-i         i-i  3-3 

or  20. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        109 
KEY  TO   OUR  SPECIES. 

A.  General  color  largely  gray  or  gray  mixed  with  rusty;  under  parts  white  or  whitish; 

hairs  on  tail  broadly  tipped  with  white. 

Gray  of  upper  parts  more  or  less  mixed  with  rusty.     Occurs  in  about  southern 
two-thirds  of  Illinois.  SOUTHERN  GRAY  SQUIRREL. 

Sciurus  carolinensis,  p.  115. 

Similar  but  slightly  larger  and  upper  parts  clear  gray  in  winter.     Occurs  in 
Wisconsin  and  northern  Illinois.  NORTHERN  GRAY  SQUIRREL. 

Sciurus  carolinensis  leucotis,  p.  116. 

B.  General  color  largely  tawny  gray;  under  parts  not  white  (usually  tawny);  hairs 

on  tail  broadly  tipped  with  tawny  or  pale  rufous. 

WESTERN  Fox  SQUIRREL.      Sciurus  niger  rufiventer,  p.  109. 

C.  General  color  reddish  brown;  under  parts  white;  entire  length,  including  tail, 

12  to  14  inches.  RED  SQUIRREL.     Sciurus  hudsonicus  loquax,  p.  122. 

D.  General  color  black  or  partly  black;  color  phases  of: 

NORTHERN  GRAY  SQUIRREL.     Sciurus  carolinensis  leucotis,  p.  116. 
or  WESTERN  Fox  SQUIRREL.     Sciurus  niger  rufiventer,  p.  109. 


Subgenus  PARASCIURUS  Trouessart. 

Premolars  ;    rostrum  long  and  broad;    brain  case  narrow  at 

i-i 

occiput;  nasals  relatively  broad;  molars  large. 

Sciurus  niger  rufiventer  (GEOFFROY). 
WESTERN  Fox  SQUIRREL. 

Sciurus  rufiventer  GEOFFROY,  Cat.  Mamm.  Mus.  d'Hist.  Nat.,  1803,  p.  176. 
Sciurus  occidentalis  AUD.  &  BACH.,  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  1841,  p.  102. 
Sciurus  vulpinus  LAPHAM,  Trans.  Wis.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  II,  1852  (1853),  p.   339 

(Wisconsin). 
Sciurus   magnicaudatus  KENNICOTT,  Trans.  111.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  I,  1853-54  (1855), 

p.  579  (Cook  Co.,  Illinois).     Ib.,  Agr.  Rept.  for  1856,  U.  S.  Patent  Office  Rept., 

1857,  P-  55- 

Sciurus  Sayi  STRONG,  Geol.  Wis.,  Surv.  1873-79,  I.  1883,  p.  439  (Wisconsin). 
Sciurus  ludovicianus  CUSTIS,  Barton's  Med.  &  Phys.  Journ.,  II,  1806,  p.  47.     ALLEN, 

Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  XIII,  1869  (1871),  p.  188  (Iowa).     MILES,  Rept. 

Geol.   Surv.   Mich.     I,    1860    (1861),   p.   220   (Michigan).     VAN   HYNING  & 

PELLETT,  Proc.  Iowa  Acad.  Sci.,  XVII,  1910,  p.  214  (Iowa). 
Sciurus  niger  GARMAN,  Bull.  Essex  Inst.,  XXVI,  1894,  p.  6  (Kentucky).     HERRICK, 

Geol.  &  Nat.  Hist.  Surv.  Minn.,  Bull.  No.  7,  1892,  p.  158  (Minnesota). 
Sciurus  niger  rufiventer  OSGOOD,  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XX,  1907,  p.  44.     JACKSON, 

Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XX,   1907,  p.  71   (Wisconsin).     HAHN,  Ann.  Rept. 

Dept.  Geol.  &  Nat.  Resources  Ind.,  1908  (1909),  p.  466  (Indiana). 


no    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

Type  locality  —  Probably  Lower  Mississippi  Valley. 
Distribution  —  Mississippi    Valley    from    Louisiana    north    to    South 
Dakota,    southern    Minnesota,    central   Wisconsin   and   southern 
Michigan,  eastward  to  western  Pennsylvania  and  West  Virginia. 
Description  — *•  (Specimens  from   Fox  Lake,   Illinois,   Oct.    31,    1906.) 
General  color  above  pale  tawny  brown  finely  mixed  with  darker 
brown;  tail  mixed  black  and  rufous  brown,  the  ends  of  the  hairs 
tawny  rufous;  ears  rufous  brown;  under  parts   pale   tawny;   four 
cheek  teeth  (i  premolar  and  3  molars)  on  each  side  of  upper  and 
lower  jaws. 

Remarks  —  No  description  of  any  one  specimen  will  answer  for  this 
species.  The  individual  coloration  is  very  variable,,  ranging  from 
black,  part  black  and  part  tawny,  to  various  mixtures  of  yellow 
brown,  rufous  and  tawny.  The  majority  of  specimens,  however, 
appear  to  be  tawny  gray-brown  above  and  pale  rufous  or  yellow 
brown  or  pale  orange  brown  on  the  under  parts,  with  the  hairs  of  the 
tail  mixed  black  and  tawny  rufous. 

In  any  pelage  its  large  size,  tawny  or  rufous  tipped  hairs  on  tail, 
together  with  the  presence  of  but  four  cheek  teeth  on  each  side  of 
both  jaws,  will  generally  distinguish  it  from  other  Squirrels  which 
occur  within  our  limits.  The  Gray  Squirrel,  the  only  species  with 
which  it  may  be  confounded,  usually  has  5  cheek  teeth  (2  premolars 
and  3  molars)  on  each  side  of  the  upper  jaw,  and  the  hairs  on  the 
tail  are  tipped  with  white. 

Measurements  —  The  following  are  the  average  measurements  of  1 2 
specimens:  Total  length,  21  in.  (533.5  mm.);  tail  vertebras,  9.50  in. 
(248.2  mm.);  hind  foot,  2.80  in.  (73  mm.). 

In  early  days  the  Fox  Squirrel  was  common  in  many  localities 
where  it  is  now  scarce,  and  few  people  at  the  present  time  have  the 
opportunities  for  observing  its  habits  that  were  accorded  the  earlier 
naturalists,  therefore  I  can  not  do  better  than  to  quote  Robert  Kennicott 
concerning  the  habits  of  the  species  in  Illinois.  He  says:  "The  fox- 
squirrel  loves  neither  the  low  lands  nor  deep  woods ;  and,  though  found 
living  in  the  heavily  timbered  districts  of  Indiana  and  Illinois,  it  is  less 
at  home  in  these  than  in  more  open  ground.  It  is  properly  an  inhabitant 
of  the  timber  of  the  prairie  regions,  and  its  favorite  habitat  is  in  the  'oak 
openings '  of  Wisconsin  and  Michigan,  and  the  groves  or  edges  of  the 
belts  of  timber  that  skirt  the  streams  watering  the  prairies  of  Illinois. 

".  .  .  In  the  woods,  the  food  of  the  fox-squirrel  consists  almost 
entirely  of  the  nuts  and  seeds  of  trees,  with  the  buds  of  some  species 
including  bass-wood,  elm  and  maple.  In  autumn,  it  eats  the  fruit  of 
various  thorns  (Cralagus) ;  various  berries  are  also  eaten  by  it,  and  it 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        m 


Western  Fox  Squirrel  (Sciurus  niger  rufiventcr}. 


ii2     FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 

is  said  to  be  particularly  fond  of  strawberries.  In  common  with  other 
squirrels,  it  sometimes  eats  insects;  and  it  has  occasionally  been  observed 
to  gnaw  the  bark  from  dead  trees,  to  procure  beetles  and  their  larvae. 
.  .  .  It  is  a  common  opinion  that  this  and  other  squirrels  carry  large 
hoards  of  nuts  to  hollow  trees  for  consumption  in  winter.  So  far  as  our 
three  species  common  in  Illinois,  are  concerned,  this  is  entirely  erroneous. 
With  the  exception  of  the  little  'Chickaree,'  no  true  squirrel  that  I 
have  observed  ever  collects  food  for  winter  in  hollow  trees.  A  few 
nut-shells  are  sometimes  found  in  a  squirrel's  hole,  but  these  are  only 
such  as  he  has  taken  there  to  be  eaten  at  the  time.  The  fox-squirrel, 
with  the  migratory  and  Carolina  squirrels,  also,  as  well  as  others  prob- 
ably, buries  large  quantities  of  nuts  and  acorns  under  the  leaves  in 
autumn,  for  use  in  winter.  These,  however,  are  not  collected  together, 
but  concealed  one  in  a  place.  In  winter,  the  squirrels  dig  them  up; 
and,  when  the  ground  is  covered  with  snow,  numerous  holes  will  be 
seen  where  they  have  dug  down  to  get  them.  It  is  interesting  to  notice 
that  they  seldom  dig  through  the  snow  and  leaves  in  this  way  without 
coming  directly  upon  the  buried  nut  or  acorn,  and  a  common  idea  is 
that  the  animal  'remembers'  the  spot.  This  is  highly  improbable. 
It  is  more  reasonable  to  suppose  that  the  animal  is  guided  by  the  sense 
of  smell.  Dr.  Hoy  tells  me  that  he  has  seen  squirrels  run  about  with 
the  nose  close  to  the  snow  or  leaves,  and  finally  dig  directly  upon  a 
buried  nut  without  hesitation.  He  gives  it  as  his  opinion  that  they 
can  always  smell  the  food,  unless  it  is  buried  under  very  deep  snow. .  .  . 

"The  fox-squirrel  is  more  solitary  in  its  habits  than  the  migratory 
squirrel*.  More  than  two  old  ones  are  rarely,  if  ever,  found  living 
together.  In  the  summer  and  fall,  the  old  males  lead  a  solitary  life, 
as  they  sometimes  do  in  winter.  As  soon  as  the  young  are  able  to  take 
care  of  themselves,  the  female  usually  drives  them  off,  when  the  old 
male,  which  has  retired  to  a  summer  residence  to  escape  the  discomfort 
attendant  upon  the  rearing  of  a  family,  returns  to  the  winter-quarters 
and  society  of  his  chosen  mate;  for,  usually  this  species  is  not  polygamous. 
This  squirrel  often,  if  not  generally,  builds  several  nests,  each  of  which 
is  sometimes  a  simple  pile  of  twigs  and  leaves  placed  in  the  forks 
of  a  tree,  but  at  other  times  is  carefully  and  ingeniously  constructed, 
being  round,  with  the  central  cavity  quite  roofed  over,  and  a  small 
entrance  on  the  side.  The  more  carefully-formed  nests  are  usually  on 
tall  trees;  but  temporary  habitations  are  frequently  built  on  small 
trees,  and  within  20  feet  of  the  ground.  After  being  driven  off  by  the 
mother,  the  young  usually  separate  and  lead  a  wandering  life,  for  a 
time  at  least.  They  build  nests  wherever  they  stop,  even  for  a  day  or 

*  Gray  Squirrel. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        113 

two ;  and  I  have  several  times  observed  individuals  to  appear  in  a  grove 
of  young  oaks,  build  a  nest,  remain  a  few  days,  and  then  disappear, 
perhaps  to  return  again  in  a  week  and  build  other  nests. 

"The  fox-squirrel  loves  to  take  up  his  abode  in  a  hollow  tree  which 
stands  out  alone  at  a  little  distance  from  the  surrounding  timber,  as  if 
desirous  of  having  a  clear  view  of  all  going  on  around  him.  When  he 
once  becomes  domiciled  in  a  tree,  he  does  not  leave  it,  unless  disturbed, 
pairs  being  observed  to  inhabit  the  same  tree  for  five  or  six  successive 
years.  It  is  less. prolific  than  either  the  migratory  or  Carolina  squirrel. 
From  two  to  four  young  are  usually  brought  forth  at  a  birth,  the  most 
common  being  three;  but  in  one  instance  I  have  seen  five.  Two 
litters  are  probably  produced  each  season.  So  far  as  has  been  observed, 
they  are  always  brought  forth  in  the  hole,  the  nest  of  leaves  being  used 
only  as  summer-houses.  Like  the  young  of  most  rodents,  they  are 
ugly,  unsymmetrical  little  beings,  at  first,  with  monstrous  heads  and 
closed  eyes ;  and  it  is  some  time  before  they  acquire  the  elegant  propor- 
tions and  agile  movements  of  their  parents. 

"These  squirrels  sometimes  leave  their  holes  for  food  and  even  for 
amusement,  in  very  cold  and  rainy  weather,  when  they  are  found  mov- 
ing about  much  more  than  the  migratory  species.  But,  though  active 
at  this  time  and  apparently  engaged  in  play,  they  do  not  now  'bark' 
as  on  warm  and  pleasant  days."  (/.  c.,  pp.  56-59,  61.) 

Regarding  the  Fox  Squirrel's  habit  of  burying  nuts  in  the  ground, 
Mr.  E.  T.  Seton  writes,  "On  the  first  of  August,  1903,  I  watched 
for  an  hour  the  Fox-squirrels  of  City  Park,  Madison,  Wis.  A  large 
male  that  seemed  master  of  those  near  came  forward  as  I  offered  him 
some  peanuts.  The  first  three  he  ate,  the  rest  he  buried.  His  pro- 
cedure was  the  same  each  time;  seizing  the  nut  in  his  teeth,  then  in 
his  paws,  he  turned  it  two  or  three  times  in  his  mouth  and  appeared  to 
be  licking  it."  (Life  Histories  of  Northern  Animals,  I,  1909,  p.  325.) 

Specimens  examined  from  Illinois,  Wisconsin  and  adjoining  states: 
Illinois  —  Wausaw,  Hancock  Co.,  i;  Lake  Forest,  Lake  Co.,  2;  Fox 

Lake,  Lake  Co.,  i;  Genesee,  1  =  5. 
Wisconsin  —  Camp  Douglas,  Juneau  Co.,  i;  Milton,  i;  Beaver  Dam, 

Dodge  Co.,  6;  Delavan,  i;   (M.  P.  M.)  Wauwatosa,  i;  Horicon,  i; 

Reeseville,  i;  Milton,  i;  Rock  Co.,  i;  Rochester,  Racine  Co.,  33; 

Saukville,  i;  North  Lake,  Waukesha  Co.,  i;  Honey  Creek,  Racine 

Co.,  i;  Brookville,  i;  Wyalusing,  Grant  Co.,  1  =  52. 
Minnesota  —  Fillmore  Co.,  i. 
Iowa  —  Knoxville,  5. 
Indiana  —  Evansville,  i. 


H4    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 


Map  illustrating  approximate  distribution  of  Fox  Squirrels  in  eastern  United  States. 
In  the  areas  indicated  by  the  blank  spaces  between  the  ranges  given  for  different  races,  either 
.or  both  may  occur  together  with  intermediate  forms. 


Sciurus  niger  LINN.     (Syst.  Nat.,  X  ed.,  I,  1758,  p.  64.)     Type  locality  —  Probably 

South  Carolina.     Largest  of  the  Fox  Squirrels;  color  variable  but  ears  and 

nose  white. 
Sciurus  n.   rufiventer   (GEOFFROY).     Type  locality  —  Probably  Lower  Mississippi 

Valley.     Somewhat  smaller  than  niger;  ears  and  nose  never  white. 
Sciurus  n.  neglectus  (GRAY).     (Ann.  &  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  3d  ser.,  XX,  1867,  p.  425.) 

Type    locality  —  Wilmington,    Delaware.     Averaging    somewhat   larger   than 

rufiventer;  belly  very  pale,  often  white  or  whitish. 
Sciurus  n.   texianus   (BACHMAN).     (Proc.   Zool.   Soc.   Lond.,  1838,   p.  86.)     Type 

locality  —  Texas.     Similar  to  rufiventer,  but  smaller  and  paler. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        115 
Subgenus  NEOSCIURUS  Trouessart. 

2  —  2 

Premolars   normally  -    — ;    nasals   narrowed   posteriorly  and  not 

extending   to   posterior  end  of  premaxillaries;    zygomata   ascending 
obliquely;  molar  series  relatively  large. 

Sciurus  carolinensis  GMELIN. 
SOUTHERN  GRAY  SQUIRREL. 

[Sciurus]  carolinensis  GMEL.,  Syst.  Nat.,  I,  1788,  p.  148. 

Sciurus  carolinensis  KENNICOTT,  Agr.  Rept.  for  1856,  U.  S.  Patent  Office  Rept., 

1857,  p.  66  (Illinois).     ALLEN,  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  XIII,  1869  (1871), 

p.   188  (Iowa).     GARMAN,  Bull.  Essex  Inst.,  XXVI,  1894,  p.  6  (Kentucky). 

JACKSON,  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XX,  1907,  p.  71  (Missouri).     HAHN,  Ann. 

Rept.  Dept.  Geol.  &  Nat.  Resources  Ind.,    1908    (1909),    p.    361     (Indiana). 

HOWELL,  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XXII,  1909,  p.  58  (Tennessee,  Mississippi,  etc.). 
Sciurus  carolinensis  fuliginosus  RHOADS,  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  1896  (1897), 

p.  196  (Tennessee). 

Type  locality  —  Carolina. 

Distribution  —  Southern  half  of  eastern  United  States  from  the  edge 
of  the  plains,  ranging  from  northern  Florida  and  northern  Louisiana 
north  to  southern  Illinois,  southern  Indiana  and  Virginia.  Replaced 
in  the  North  and  South  by  other  races. 

Description  —  General   appearance   grayish,    tinged   with   pale   rusty 
brown  on  middle  of  back,  on  sides  behind  the  fore  legs,  on  ears  and 
about  the  face  and  head;  under  parts  white  or  whitish;  soles  of  feet 
usually  naked;  hairs  of  tail  pale  tawny  brown  at  base,  banded  with 
black   and   broadly   tipped   -with   white.    Animals   of   this   species 
usually  have  two  premolars  on  each  side  of  upper  jaw. 
Measurements  —  Total  length,  about  18.25  in.  (462  mm.);  tail  verte- 
brae, 8.50  in.  (215  mm.);  hind  foot,  2.50  in.  (64mm.). 
The  Southern  Gray  Squirrel  occurs  within  our  limits  in  the  southern 
portion  of  Illinois.     The  Field  Museum  collection  contains  specimens 
from  Olive  Branch,  Alexander  County,  but  it  probably  occurs  at  least 
as  far  north  as  the  south  central  part  of  the  state.     As  would  be  ex- 
pected, specimens  from  northern  Illinois  are  often  more  or  less  inter- 
mediate between  this  form  and  S.  c.  leucotis,  but  approach  nearer  the 
latter.     Its  habits  are  apparently  the  same  as  those  given  for  the 
Northern  Gray  Squirrel,  except  that  it  is  less  migratory,  as  would  be 
expected  under  milder  climatic  conditions  and  a  consequent  less  variable 
food  supply. 

Specimens  examined  from  Illinois : 
Illinois  —  Olive  Branch,  Alexander  Co.,  i ;  Hancock  Co.,  1  =  2. 


u6    FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY, 

Sciurus  carolinensis  leucotis  (GAPPER). 
NORTHERN  GRAY  SQUIRREL. 

Sciurus  leucotis  GAPPER,  Zool.  Journ.,  V,  1830,  p.  206.     SNYDER,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat. 

Hist.  Soc.,  II,  1902,  p.  119  (Wisconsin). 
Sciurus  migratorius  KENNICOTT,  Trans.  111.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  I,  1853-54  (1855),  p.  579 

(Cook  Co.,  Illinois).     Ib.,  Agr.  Kept,  for  1856,  U.  S.  Patent  Office  Rept.,  1857, 

p.  62  (Illinois,  Wisconsin,  etc.).      STRONG,  Geol.  Wis.,  Surv.  1873-79,  I.  1883, 

p.  439  (Wisconsin). 

Sciurus  niger  GODMAN,  Amer.  Nat.  Hist.,  II,  1826,  p.  133. 

Sciurus  carolinensis  MILES,  Rept.  Geol.  Surv.  Mich.,  1, 1860  (1861),  p.  220  (Michigan). 
Sciurus  carolinensis  leucotis  MERRIAM,  Mamm.  Adirondack  Reg.,   1886,  p.  219. 

BANGS,  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  X,  1896,  p.  156  (Wisconsin,  Minnesota,  etc.). 

JACKSON,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  VI,  1908,  p.  15  (Wisconsin).     HAHN,  Anr. 

Rept.  Dept.  Geol.  &  Nat.  Resources  Ind.,  1908  (1909),  p.  364  (Indiana). 
Sciurus  carolinensis  hypophaeus  JACKSON,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  VI,  1908,  p.  15. 

Ib.,  VIII,  1910,  p.  86  (Wisconsin). 
Sciurus  carolinensis  var.  leucotis  HERRICK,  Geol.  &  Nat.  Hist.  Surv.  Minn.,  Bull. 

No.  7,  1892,  p.  157  (Minnesota). 

Type  locality  —  Region  between  York  and  Lake  Simcoe,  Ontario, 
Canada. 

Distribution  —  Northeastern  United  States  and  southern  Canada,  from 
northern  Illinois,  Indiana  and  Pennsylvania  northward  to  about 
latitude  46°  and  west  to  Minnesota  and  Iowa. 

Description  —  In  summer:  Similar  to  carolinensis  but  larger  and  grayer. 
In  winter:  Upper  parts  silvery  gray,  the  yellowish  brown 
bases  of  the  hairs  on  the  back  and  head  being  practically  concealed ; 
color  subject  to  much  variation.  Entirely  black  specimens  are 
not  uncommon  in  some  localities  and  various  intergradations 
between  the  black  and  gray  phases  of  pelage  occur. 

Measurements  —  Total  length  about  20  in.  (505  mm.) ;  tail  vertebrae 
9  in.  (230  mm.);  hind  foot  2.70  in.  (69  mm.). 

Remarks  —  The  series  which  I  have  examined  from'  northern  Illinois 
and  Wisconsin  seem  to  confirm  Hahn's  opinion  (1.  c.,  p.  465)  that 
leucotis  is  not  separable  by  color  characters  from  the  form  recognized 
as  hypophaeus  from  Minnesota.  There  is  no  doubt  that  the  Min- 
nesota form  averages  larger  and  it  is  not  unlikely  that  it  may  con- 
tinue to  be  given  subspecific  recognition  by  some  authorities  on 
that  account,  but  that  the  difference  is  merely  an  average  one  is 
shown  by  the  fact  that  selected  specimens  from  eastern  New  York 
and  other  localities,  where  typical  leucotis  occurs,  are  fully  as  large 
as  the  largest  Minnesota  specimens.  Under  the  circumstances, 
therefore,  without  further  discussing  the  merits  of  hypophaeus  as  a 
subspecies,  it  would  seem  best  to  exclude  it  from  our  limits  and  con- 
sider all  the  Gray  Squirrels  which  occur  in  Wisconsin  to  be  leucotis. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        117 

The  Northern  Gray  Squirrel  inhabits  the  more  heavily  wooded 
portions  of  northern  Illinois  and  Wisconsin.     Its  true  home  is  in  groves 


Black  phase.  Normal  phase. 

Northern  Gray  Squirrel  (Sciurus  carolinensis  leucotis). 

of  hard  wood  timber,  where  it  makes  its  nest  both  in  hollow  trees  and 
outside  among  the  branches.     When  the  latter  kind  is  constructed, 


u8     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XT. 

it  is  made  of  twigs,  leaves  and  bark  nicely  roofed  over  with  an  entrance 
on  the  side.  These  houses,  when  seen  from  the  ground,  have  much  the 
appearance  of  old  crows'  nests. 

In  the  majority  of  cases  in  this  latitude  two  litters  of  young  are 
born  in  a  year,  the  first  late  in  March  or  early  in  April,  and  the  second 
usually  in  September.  The  young  Squirrels  number  from  three  to 
five,  rarely  six,  and  when  born  are  entirely  without  hair. 

While  this  Squirrel  cannot  be  said  to  hibernate  in  the  strict  sense  of 
the  word,  at  least  in  this  latitude,  it  remains  indoors,  often  for  a  con- 
siderable length  of  time,  during  stormy  or  very  severe  winter  weather; 
but  as  soon  as  the  weather  moderates  and  becomes  clear,  it  is  out  run- 
ning about  as  lively  as  ever. 

In  localities  where  they  are  comparatively  numerous  their  peculiar 
barking  may  often  be  heard;  they  also  make  a  whining  noise  difficult 
to  describe.  When  not  persecuted,  as  in  parks  or  the  vicinity  of 
country  houses,  they  soon  become  very  tame,  and  I  have  often  had  them 
climb  up  on  the  bench  beside  me  and  take  nuts  from  my  hand;  usually, 
however,  they  would  go  away  a  few  yards  to  eat  them  and  then  return 
for  more.  Dr.  C.  Hart  Merriam  states,  "Some  winters  they  became 
very  tame,  and  while  we  were  at  breakfast  inside,  a  few  used  to  bring 
their  nuts  to  the  window  and  eat  them  there,  perched  on  their  haunches 
on  the  sill,  with  their  handsome  bushy  tails  cocked  over  their  backs. 
When  any  one  went  out  doors  they  commonly  scampered  off  or  ran  up 
a  tree,  yet  several  often  remained  and  would  allow  a  near  approach 
without  manifesting  alarm.  They  were  extremely  fond  of  music  (in 
the  most  comprehensive  sense  of  the  term),  and  it  affected  them  in  a 
peculiar  manner.  Some  were  not  only  fascinated,  but  actually  spell- 
bound, by  the  music-box  or  guitar.  And  one  particularly  weak-minded 
individual  was  so  unrefined  in  his  taste  that  if  I  advanced  slowly, 
whistling  '  Just  before  the  Battle,  Mother ',  in  as  pathetic  a  tone  as  I  could 
muster  for  the  occasion,  he  would  permit  me  even  to  stroke  his  back, 
sometimes  expressing  his  pleasure  by  making  a  low  purring  sound.'' 
(l.-c.,  pp.  223-224.)  But  a  wild  Squirrel  in  the  woods  is  shy,  and  when 
observed  has  a  habit  of  skillfully  shifting  its  position  in  a  tree  to  keep 
itself  concealed  behind  trunk  or  branch,  so  that  the  boy  with  a  gun  will 
often  have  considerable  difficulty  in  discovering  the  one  which  he 
knows  to  be  in  a  certain  tree.  Formerly  black  Squirrels  of  this  species 
were  much  more  common  in  localities  where  now  they  are  apparently 
rare.  While  at  present  the  black  form  seems  to  be  the  exception, 
Kennicott  states,  "In  a  lot  of  nearly  fifty  shot  near  the  Rock  River  in 
Illinois  there  was  not  a  single  gray  one,  all  being  of  the  black  variety." 
(/.  c..  p.  63.) 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        119 

The  food  of  the  Gray  Squirrel  is  much  the  same  as  that  of  the  Fox 
Squirrel,  and  both  have  the  same  habit  of  burying  nuts  in  little  holes  dug 
in  the  ground.  While  many  of  these  are  probably  not  found  again  and 
used  by  the  animal,  there  is  no  doubt  that  a  majority  of  them  are,  if 
not  by  the  particular  Squirrel  that  concealed  them,  by  others  of  his  race 
that  have  buried  nuts  in  that  vicinity.  I  have  on  several  occasions 
seen  Squirrels  bury  nuts  seemingly  in  a  haphazard  way  and  without 
any  particular  regard  for  the  location,  the  spot  selected  being  wherever 
it  happened  to  be  at  the  time  when  it  had  been  given  or  had  found  more 
nuts  than  it  desired  to  eat.  I  am  inclined  to  believe  that,  having  a 
general  idea  of  the  location,  they  trust  to  their  keen  sense  of  smell  to 
enable  them  to  discover  their  buried  treasures  when  times  are  not  so 
prosperous.  In  this  connection  Dr.  C.  Hart  Merriam  says,  "Those 
who  have  observed  the  habits  of  this  species  in  summer  must  have 
noticed  their  propensity  for  burying  nuts  just  beneath  the  surface  in 
various  parts  of  the  woods.  They  do  not,  so  far  as  I  am  aware,  make  a 
great  accumulation  in  any  one  place,  but  dig  a  thousand  little  holes, 
plant  a  nut  or  two  in  each,  scrape  a  few  leaves  over  the  spot  and  hurry 
off  as  if  afraid  some  one  would  discover  the  treasure.  In  winter  this 
habit  is  almost  equally  marked,  and  the  first  thing  a  squirrel  thinks  of 
after  his  hunger  is  satisfied,  is  to  secrete  a  portion  of  the  food  remaining 
at  his  disposal.  In  accomplishing  this  he  tunnels  into  the  snow  in 
various  directions,  hiding  some  of  the  surplus  provisions  in  each  excava- 
tion. Many  persons  who  have  observed  this  habit  in  summer  regard 
it  as  an  idle  pastime,  and  question  if  the  squirrel  ever  finds  the  nuts 
again,  knowing  that  he  could  never  remember  the  exact  position  of 
so  many.  But  those  who  have  kept  tame  squirrels  must  have  been 
struck  with  the  remarkable  certainty  and  quickness  with  which  they 
detect  the  whereabouts  of  nuts  that  are  hidden  from  sight.  A  squirrel 
will  often  scratch  and  gnaw  at  a  tight  box  or  drawer  that  he  has  never 
seen  before,  if  a  few  nuts  happen  to  be  in  the  bottom  of  it.  His  sense 
of  smell  is  very  acute,  enabling  him  to  detect  the  presence  of  a  nut  at 
some  little  distance,  hence,  though  he  does  not,  of  course,  remember 
the  exact  spot  where  each  one  is  buried  under  the  leaves,  he  can,  by 
moving  carefully  over  the  ground,  discover  a  great  many  of  them." 
(/.  c.,  pp.  224-225.) 

While  it  is  probable  that  Gray  Squirrels  are  migratory  at  the 
present  time  to  a  more  or  less  extent,  their  numbers  are  so  greatly 
reduced  as  compared  with  former  days  that,  if  they  continue  the  habit, 
they  do  not  attract  attention.  Fifty  years  ago  they  were  known  to 
migrate  in  vast  numbers,  not  annually  but  at  irregular  intervals  from 
some  unknown  cause,  but  which  may  have  been  governed  by  food 


120    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

conditions.  Considering  the  great  abundance  of  these  animals  in 
early  days,  we  may  well  suppose  that  in  poor  "nut  years"  the  scarcity 
of  their  favorite  food  would  supply  a  sufficient  cause;  and  assuming 
scarcity  of  food  to  be  the  dominant  factor  governing  such  concerted 
movements  among  these  animals,  the  absence  of  such  migrations  at 
the  present  day  may  readily  be  explained  on  account  of  the  enormous 
decrease  in  numbers  of  Squirrels  and  consequent  abundance  of  nuts, 
even  in  poor  years,  for  those  that  remain. 

Kennicott  says,  "After  one  of  these  grand  migrations,  very  few  of 
the  species  are  found  in  the  localities  from  which  they  have  moved, 
and  these,  as  if  alarmed  at  the  unusual  solitude,  are  silent  and  shy. 
They  rapidly  increase  in  numbers,  however,  and,  in  a  few  years,  are  as 
abundant  as  before.  I  am  not  aware  that  they  ever  migrate  except 
when  exceedingly  abundant.  Of  these  immense  hordes,  but  few 
probably  survive.  No  sudden  increase  in  their  numbers  was  heard  of 
in  southern  Wisconsin  after  the  several  migrations  from  northern 
Illinois.  Many  are  drowned  in  attempting  to  cross  streams  as  has 
been  stated;  not  a  few  are  destroyed  by  man;  some  die  from  utter 
exhaustion;  and,  when  forced  to  travel,  in  an  unnatural  manner,  upon 
the  ground,  they  fall  an  easy  prey  to  rapacious  birds  and  mammals, 
all  of  which  feast  when  the  squirrels  migrate.  I  learn  from  Dr.  Hoy, 
that  one  of  these  migrations  is  said  to  have  taken  place  in  southern 
Wisconsin  in  1842;  he  witnessed  another  in  1847,  and  a  third  in  1852. 
From  these  facts,  and  from  observations  made  in  Ohio  and  elsewhere, 
he  is  of  the  opinion  that  the  migrations,  in  most  cases  at  least,  occur 
at  intervals  of  five  years;  and,  if  he  be  right,  the  squirrels,  which  are 
now  exceedingly  abundant  again  in  southern  Wisconsin,  may  be  expected 
to  migrate  in  the  autumn  of  1857.*  He  further  says  that  the  migra- 
tions observed  by  him  in  southern  Wisconsin  occurred  when  the  mast 
was  exceedingly  abundant  and  the  squirrels  in  excellent  condition. 
Near  Racine,  they  were  observed  passing  southward  in  very  large 
numbers  for  about  two  weeks,  at  the  end  of  September  and  the  begin- 
ning of  October;  and  it  was  a  month  before  all  had  passed.  They 
moved  along  leisurely,  stopping  to  feed  in  the  fields,  and  upon  the 

*  It  is  interesting  to  note  that  Dr.  Hoy's  prediction  that  Gray  Squirrels  would 
migrate  in  Wisconsin  in  1857  was  fulfilled.  In  a  letter  to  Mr.  A.  W.  Bray  ton,  written 
at  Racine,  April  2,  1878,  he  says,  "Black  and  Gray  Squirrels  did  migrate  in  1857  as 
predicted.  Whether  there  is  a  precise  interval  between  these  migrations  I  will  not 
pretend  to  state,  yet  they  did  migrate  in  this  section  in  1847,  1852  and  1857,  since 
which  they  have  become  so  scarce  that  I  could  not  determine  whether  there  was  an 
attempt  to  migrate  or  not,  as  they  are  nearly  exterminated  now  in  this  vicinity. 
In  1857  I  knew  one  negro  who  stood  by  a  tree,  in  an  open  space  on  the  line  of  a  fence, 
and  shot  over  twenty  in  one  afternoon.  In  other  years  one  might  stand  at  the  same 
place  six  months  and  not  see  one  individual."  (Bray ton,  Geol.  Surv.  Ohio,  IV, 
1882,  p.  in,  foot  note.) 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        121 


Map  showing  approximate  distribution  of  Gray  Squirrels  in  eastern  United  States. 
In  the  areas  indicated  by  the  dotted  spaces  between  the  ranges  given  for  the  different  races  either 
or  both  may  occur,  together  with  intermediate  forms. 

Sciurus  carolinensis  GMEL.  Type  locality — Carolina.  Description  as  previously 
given. 

Sciurus  c.  leucotis  (GAPPER).  Type  locality  —  Region  between  York  and  Lake 
Simcoe,  Ontario,  Canada.  Description  as  previously  given. 

Sciurus  c.  hypophaeus  MERRIAM.  (Science,  VII,  1886,  p.  351.)  Type  locality  — 
Elk  River,  Minnesota.  Supposed  to  differ  from  leucotis  in  being  somewhat 
darker,  and  white  on  under  parts  restricted  to  a  narrow  central  streak  on  the 
belly.  Minnesota  Gray  Squirrels  average  somewhat  larger,  but  the  color  differ- 
ences are  apparently  of  little  value. 

Sciurus  c.  fuliginosus  (BACHMAN).  (Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  Lond.,  1838,  p.  97.)  Type 
locality — New  Orleans,  Louisiana.  Larger  and  darker  than  carolinensis;  under 
parts  never  pure  white,  usually  washed  with  ferrugineous. 

Sciurus  c.  extimus  BANGS.  (Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  X,  1896,  p.  158.)  Type  lo- 
cality— Miami,  Dade  Co.,  Florida.  Smallest  of  our  Gray  Squirrels;  total  length 
(including  tail  vertebrae)  about  17.50  inches;  color  lighter  and  more  gray  than 
carolinensis. 


122     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 

abundant  nuts  and  acorns  of  the  forests.  So  far  had  they  departed 
from  their  accustomed  habits  that  they  were  seen  on  the  prairie,  four 
or  five  miles  from  any  timber;  but  even  there,  as  usual,  they  disliked  to 
travel  on  the  ground,  and  ran  along  the  fences  wherever  it  was  possible." 
(/.  c.,  pp.  64-65.) 

Jackson  states  that  in  the  autumn  of  1905  there  was  a  migration 
of  these  Squirrels  across  the  Mississippi  River  from  Wisconsin  to 
Minnesota  and  that  later  a  large  number  migrated  back  into  Wisconsin. 
(/.  c.,  p.  87.) 

Specimens  examined  from  Illinois  and  Wisconsin: 
Illinois  —  Lake  Forest,  Lake  Co.,  4. 

Wisconsin  —  Camp  Douglas,  Juneau  Co.,  i;  loc.  ?,  (albino)  i;  (M.  P. 
M).  Milton,  (black)  i;  Delavan,  i;  Prescott,  Pierce  Co.,  14; 
Oconomowoc,  3;  Honey  Creek,  Racine  Co.,  i;  Maiden  Rock,  18; 
Pardeeville,  9;  Racine  Co.,  16;  Fall  River,  Columbia  Co.,  6;  East 
Troy,  6;  Fountain  City,  Buffalo  Co.,  8;  Waukesha  Co.,  2;  Lancas- 
ter, 2.  Eagle,  (albino)  i;  West  Bend,  (albino)  i;  Rochester,  2; 
Auburndale,  (nearly  black)  i;  (O.  C.)  Palmyra,  Jefferson  Co.,  5  =  99. 

Subgenus  TAMIASCIURUS  Trouessart. 

2  —  2  I  —  I 

Premolars  —3—  or  — — ;    skull  short,  broad,  and  curved,  highest 

between  postorbital  processes  of  the  frontal;  nasals  broad;  squamosal 
process  of  zygoma  projecting  outward  and  with  gradual  downward 
curve;  molar  series  moderately  large. 

Sciurus  hudsonicus  loquax  BANGS. 
SOUTHERN  RED  SQUIRREL.     RED  SQUIRREL.     CHICKAREE. 

Sciurus  hudsonicus  loquax  BANGS,  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  X,  1896,  p.  161.     SNYDER, 

Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  II,  1902,  p.  120  (Wisconsin).     ADAMS,  Rept.  State 

Board  Geol.  Surv.  Mich.,  1905  (1906),  p.  128  (Michigan).     JACKSON,  Bull.  Wis. 

Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  VI,  1908,  p.  16  (Wisconsin).     HAHN,  Ann.  Rept.  Dept.  Geol.  & 

Nat.  Resources  Ind.,  1908  (1909),  p.  468  (Indiana).   VAN  HYNING  &  PELLETT, 

Proc.  Iowa  Acad.  Sci.,  XVII,  1910,  p.  214  (Iowa). 
Sciurus  hudsonius  KENNICOTT,  Agr.  Rept.  for  1856,  U.  S.  Patent  Office  Rept.,  1857, 

p.  67  (Illinois).     ALLEN,  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  XIII,  1869  (1871),  p.  188 

(Iowa). 
Sciurus  hudsonicus  EVERMANN  &  BUTLER,  Proc.  Ind.  Acad.  Sci.,  1893  (1894),  p.  130 

(Indiana).     ELLIOT,  Field  Columb.  Mus.  Pub.,  Zool.,  I,  1898,  p.  219  (Iowa). 
Sciurus  Hudsonicus  LAPHAM,  Trans.  Wis.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  II,  1852  (1853),  p.  339 

(Wisconsin).  '  KENNICOTT,  Trans.  111.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  I,  1853-54  (1855),  p.  579 

(Cook  Co.,  Illinois). 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  or  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        123 

Sciurus  Hudsonius  THOMAS,  Trans.  111.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  IV,  1859-60  (1861),  p.  656 
(Illinois).  MILES,  Rept.  Geol.  Surv.  Mich.,  1860  (1861),  p.  221  (Michigan). 
STRONG,  Geol.  Wis.,  Surv.  1873-79,  1883,  p.  439  (Wisconsin). 

Sciurus  hudsonicus  minnesota  ALLEN,  Amer.  Nat.,  XXXIII,  1899,  p.  640.  HOL- 
LISTER,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  VI,  1908,  p.  138. 

Type  locality  —  Liberty  Hill,  New  London  Co.,  Connecticut. 

Distribution  —  Eastern  United  States  from  the  edge  of  the  plains  to 
the  Atlantic  coast,  and  from  southern  Maine,  northern  Michigan 
and  Minnesota  southward;  northern  Illinois,  northern  Indiana, 
Pennsylvania,  and  in  the  mountains  south  to  North  Carolina. 
Replaced  in  the  North  and  Northeast  by  allied  races. 

Special  characters  —  General  color  (in  summer)  reddish  brown ;  under 
parts  whitish,  or  grayish  white,  the  hairs  not  vermiculated.  In 
winter  olive  grayish  on  sides,  with  wide  brownish  red  or  rufous 
stripe  down  the  back;  tail  flattened;  ears 'with  tufts  and  soles  of 
feet  furred  in  winter. 

Description  —  In  summer:  Upper  parts  reddish  brown ;  a  black  stripe 
on  sides  separating  the  red  brown  color  of  back  from  the  white  on 
the  under  parts;  under  parts  white,  often  tinged  in  places  with 
rusty;  tail  largely  deep  rufous  brown;  the  terminal  hairs  black  near 
the  tip;  front  of  fore  legs  and  upper  surface  of  hind  feet  clear  fer- 
rugineous. 

In  winter:  A  broad  dorsal  band  of  bright  rufous  brown  ex- 
tending from  between  the  ears  down  the  middle  of  the  back  and 
along  upper  surface  of  tail;  sides  olive  gray;  no  black  stripe  on 
sides  or  but  faintly  indicated;  under  parts  grayish  white,  the  hairs 
plumbeous  at  the  base;  under  surface  of  tail  olivaceous  gray,  the 
hairs  on  sides  and  end  of  tail  subterminally  marked  with  black  and 
tipped  with  tawny. 

Measurements  —  Total  length,  about  12.50  in.  (318  mm.) ;  tail  vertebras, 
5.15  in.  (130  mm.);  hind  foot,  nSy  in.  (48  mm.). 

Remarks  —  Judging  from  the  material  examined,  I  am  inclined  to  believe 
the  Minnesota  Squirrel,  S.  h.  minnesota,  to  be  inseparable  from 
loquax.  The  color  differences,  if  any,  are  inconstant  and  at  most 
would  seem  to  represent  intergradation  between  true  hudsonicus 
and  loquax.  Some  Minnesota  specimens  are  larger  than  any  I 
have  seen  from  Wisconsin  or  Michigan,  and  Minnesota  specimens 
average  larger,  but  the  difference  in  size  alone  is  apparently  not 
sufficiently  constant  nor  sufficiently  great  to  warrant  subspecific 
recognition.  Be  that  as  it  may,  specimens  from  Solon  Springs, 
Douglas  County,  in  extreme  northwestern  Wisconsin  are  certainly 
referable  to  loquax,  as  are  all  other  Wisconsin  and  Michigan  speci- 
mens which  I  have  so  far  examined. 


124    FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

The  following  measurements  are  from  specimens  in  the  collection 
of  Field  Museum  of  Natural  History: 

Beaver  Dam,  Dodge  Co.,  southeastern  Wisconsin: 

Total  length,  316  mm.;  tail  vertebra,  133;  hind  foot,  50. 

331  "  ;  "       "        143;  "     "    si. 

Camp  Douglas,  Juneau  Co.,  central  Wisconsin: 

Total  length,  325;  tail  vertebrae,  140;  hind  foot,  50. 
"         "        320;    "  "         138;      "       "     48. 

Solon  Springs,  Douglas  Co.,  northwestern  Wisconsin: 

Total  length,  315;  tail  vertebras,  133;  hind  foot,  50. 

"        315;    "  "  128;    "        "      47- 

310;    "  "  125;    "        "      48. 

"         "        3io;    "  "  125;    "        "      47- 

300;  •"  120;     "        "      48. 

"         "        318;    "  "  130;    "        "      47- 

Sayner,  Vilas  Co.,  northern  Wisconsin: 

Total  length,  312;  tail  vertebras,  122;  hind  foot,  50. 
312;    "  "         123;     "      "      46. 

Fort  Snelling,  Minnesota,  (Topotypes  of  S.  h.  minnesota  collected  by 
E.  A.  Mearns.) : 

Total  length,  323;  tail  vertebrae,  137;  hind  foot,  47. 

"        "          327;     "  "          1355      "       "      49- 

"        "          327;     "  "          Uo;      "       "       52. 

3355    "  142;  "      51. 

The  following  average  measurements  of  20  topotypes  of  S.  h. 
minnesota  are  given  by  Dr.  Allen  (/.  c.,  p.  641.): 

"Total  length,  334;  tail  vertebras,  130.2;  hind  foot,  49.2  mm." 

The  following  average  measurements  of  eight  adult  specimens  of 
S.  h.  loquax  from  Liberty  Hill,  Connecticut  (the  type  locality),  are 
given  by  Mr.  Outram  Bangs  (1.  c.,  p.  161.): 

"Total  length,  318.3;  tail  vertebrae,  133.5;  hind  foot,  47.42  mm." 

The  Red  Squirrel  is  found  in  the  wooded  portions  of  northern 
Illinois  and  is  common  throughout  Wisconsin,  frequenting  hardwood 
and  mixed  groves,  as  well  as  coniferous  forests,  where  it  can  procure 
pine  seeds  which  in  such  localities  form  a  considerable  portion  of  its 
food.  Its  home  is  usually  in  a  hollow  tree,  stump,  or  log,  often  an 
apple  tree  where,  in  the  majority  of  cases,  a  deserted  woodpecker's 
hole  is  chosen.  It  has  also  been  known  occasionally,  though  rarely,  to 
make  its  nest  in  a  hole  in  the  ground.  While  it  does  not  hibernate  in 
winter,  at  least  in  this  latitude,  it  dislikes  to  go  out  in  stormy  weather, 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        125 

remaining  in  its  snug  and  well-supplied  home;  but  in  clear  weather 
snow  and  ice  have  no  terrors  for  it  and  it  may  be  seen  running  about 


Summer.  Winter. 

Southern  Red  Squirrel  (Sciurus  hudsonicus  loquax). 

on  a  fine  winter  day  seemingly  as  lively  and  contented  as  in  summer. 
This  species  occasionally  builds  an  outside  nest  in  the  forks  of  large 


126    FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

branches,  which  is  composed  of  twigs,  leaves  and  bark;  but  such  nests 
seem  to  be  the  exception  in  this  latitude. 

I  am  satisfied  that  Red  Squirrels  pair,  at  least  in  Massachusetts, 
where  for  many  years  I  had  somewhat  unusual  opportunities  for  ob- 
serving them.  The  young  are  born  in  April  and  vary  in  number  from 
4  to  6,  although  in  a  majority  of  cases  the  number  is  probably  4  or  5. 

The  harsh  chattering  notes  of  this  species  are  well  known  to  those 
who  wander  in  the  woods,  but  it  also  has  several  sharp  scolding  notes, 
which  it  usually  utters  when  annoyed  by  something  and  thinks  itself 
unobserved. 

Kennicott  says,  "Unlike  any  other  of  the  true  squirrels  found  here, 
this  species  sometimes,  but  not  generally,  lives  in  holes  in  the  ground. 
Unlike  the  others,  too,  it  collects  into  its  hole  in  autumn  an  ample 
provision  of  the  good  things  of  squirrel  life,  wherewith  to  console  and 
sustain  itself  in  the  uncomfortable  season  of  frost  and  snow.  It  is 
well  known  that  the  Chickaree  makes  large  hoards  of  nuts,  acorns  and 
seeds.  These  are  deposited  in  hollow  trees,  and  sometimes  under  fallen 
logs,  and  even  in  holes  in  the  ground.  In  consequence  of  his  good 
cheer,  this  squirrel  is  seen  actively  scampering  about  in  cold  weather, 
when  his  hungry  cousins  cannot  pluck  up  courage  to  leave  their  warm 
abodes,  even  in  search  of  food.  In  the  cornfield,  his  depredations  are 
at  times  a  source  of  much  annoyance  to  the  farmer.  Besides  eating 
at  the  time  with  others,  this  provident  species  is  said  to  carry  off  corn 
to  its  hole  for  winter  use."  (/.  c.,  p.  68.) 

The  food  of  the  Red  Squirrel  is  very  varied  and  it  is  practically 
omnivorous,  especially  in  winter.  It  is  fond  of  beechnuts  and  other 
nuts,  acorns,  berries,  fruit,  insects,  mushrooms,  birds'  eggs,  young  birds, 
and  a  variety  of  other  things  too  numerous  to  mention. 

Specimens  examined  from  Illinois,  Wisconsin  and  adjoining  states: 
Illinois  —  (O.)  Lake  Forest,  i ;  Fox  Lake,  1  =  2. 

Wisconsin  —  Beaver  Dam,  2 ;  Sayner,  2 ;  Solon  Springs,  7 ;  Tomahawk 
Lake,  i ;  Camp  Douglas,  3 ;  Woodruff,  i ;  Lac  Vieux  Desert,  Vilas 
Co.,  3;  (M.  P.  M.)  Rhine,  Sheboygan  Co.,  i;  Cataline,  15;  Maiden 
Rock,  7;  Conover,  i;  Pembine,  i;  Milwaukee  Co.,  i;  Washington 
Island,  Door  Co.,  i;  Sheboygan  Falls,  i;  Golden  Lake,  Waukesha 
Co.,  i;  Rochester,  Racine  Co.,  2;  Milwaukee,  i;  Merton,  i;  Jackson- 
port,  Door  Co.,  i ;  Burnett  Co.,  i ;  Ellison  Bay,  Door  Co.,  i ;  Muskego 
Lake,  2;  Prairie  du  Sac,  2;  Kelly  Brook,  Oconto  Co.,  i;  Wauwatosa, 
i;  (O.  C.)  Rochester,  Racine  Co.,  i;  Pewaukee,  4;  Fisher  Lake, 
Iron  Co.,  13;  Langlade  Co.,  6;  Fox  Point,  Milwaukee  Co.,  i;  Oak 
Creek,  Milwaukee  Co.,  2  =  88. 
Michigan  —  Park  Siding,  6;  Murphy  Lake,  4;  Dowagiac,  5=15. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        127 

Indiana  —  La  Porte,  i ;  Bluffton,  1  =  2. 

Iowa  —  Knoxville,  i . 

Minnesota  —  Fort  Snelling,  4;  Aitken,  1  =  5. 


Map  illustrating  approximate  distribution  of  Red  Squirrels  in  eastern  United  States. 
In  the  areas  indicated  by  the  dotted  spaces  between  the  ranges  given  for  the  different  races, 
either  or  both  may  occur,  together  with  intermediate  forms. 


Sciurus  hudsonicus  (ERXLEBEN).  (Syst.  Regn.  Anim.,  I,  1777,  p.  416.)  Type 
locality  —  Hudson  Strait.  In  winter:  General  color  paler  than  loquax;  tail  with 
pale  tawny  or  yellowish  fringe;  under  parts  finely  vermiculated,  having  a  gray 
appearance.  In  summer:  Closely  approaching  loquax  but  smaller. 

Sciurus  h.  loquax  BANGS.  Type  locality  —  Liberty  Hill,  New  London  Co.,  Con- 
necticut. Description  as  previously  given. 

Sciurus  h.  gymnicus  BANGS.  (Proc.  New  Engl.  Zool.  Club,  I,  1899,  p.  28.)  Type 
locality  —  Greenville,  Maine.  Smallest  of  eastern  races;  hind  foot  short;  tail 
with  orange  red  fringe;  under  parts  grayish  in  winter. 

Sciurus  h.  minnesota  ALLEN.  (Amer.  Nat.,  XXXIII,  1899,  p.  640.)  Type  lo- 
cality —  Fort  Snelling,  Minnesota.  Averaging  larger  than  loquax,  but  appar- 
ently not  separable  from  it  except,  perhaps,  by  size. 


128     FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

Genus  TAMIAS    Illiger. 

Tamias  Illiger,  Prodr.  Syst.  Mamm.  et  Avium,   1811,  p.   83.     Type 

Sciurus  striatus  Linn. 

Size  small  for  a  Squirrel,  tail  less  bushy  than  in  Sciurus;  back 
conspicuously  striped;  cheeks  with  pouches  which  open  between  the 
lips  and  teeth;  postorbital  processes  slender,  pointed  (spine-like), 
and  directed  obliquely  backward  and  downward;  infraorbital  foramen 
small  and  confined  to  lower  part  of  maxilla. 

Dental  formula:   I.  - — ->  C.  —  —>  Pm.  - — -,  M.  3—  -=20. 
i-i        o-o  i-i          3-3 

KEY  TO   OUR   CHIPMUNKS. 

A.  Back  with  two  pale  stripes  and  several  blackish  ones;  total  length  (adult)  more 

than  9  inches. 
Rump  rufous  chestnut.     Animal  occurs  from  northern  Illinois  southward. 

CHIPMUNK,  Tamias  striatus,  p.  128. 

Rump  more  cinnamon  brown,  general  pelage  grayer.     Animal  occurs  in  northern 
Illinois  and  Wisconsin.  GRAY  CHIPMUNK. 

Tamias  s.  griseus,  p.  130. 

B.  Back  with  four  pale  stripes  and  several  dark  ones;  size  small,  usually  less  than  9 

inches.     Animal  occurs  in  northern  Wisconsin.  LITTLE  CHIPMUNK. 

Eutamias  borealis  neglectus,  p.  135. 

Tamias  striatus  (LINN.). 
CHIPMUNK.     STRIPED  CHIPMUNK.     SOUTHERN  CHIPMUNK. 

[Sciurus]  striatus  LINN^US,  Syst.  Nat.,  X  ed.,  I,  1758,  p.  64. 

Tamias  striatus  KENNICOTT,  Agr.  Rept.  for  1856,  U.  S.  Patent  Office  Rept.,  1857, 
p.  70  (Illinois).  ALLEN,  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  XIII,  1869  (1871),  p.  189 
(Iowa).  GARMAN,  Bull.  Essex  Inst.,  XXVI,  1894,  p.  6  (Kentucky).  EVER- 
MANN&  BUTLER,  Proc.  Ind.  Acad.  Sci.,  1893  (1894),  p.  129  (Indiana).  RHOADS, 
Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  1896  (1897),  p.  193  (Tennessee).  HAHN,  Ann. 
Rept.  Dept.  Geol.  &  Nat.  Resources  Ind.,  1908  (1909),  p.  471  (Indiana). 
HOWELL,  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XXII,  1909,  p.  59  (Kentucky,  Tennessee, 
Mississippi,  etc.).  Ib.,  XXIII,  1910,  p.  25  (Illinois,  Missouri,  etc.). 

Tamias  striatus  lysteri  McATEE,  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XX,  1907,  p.  3  (Indiana). 

Type  locality — -Southeastern  United  States. 

Distribution  —  On  Atlantic  coast  from  southern  New  York  and  New 
Jersey  to  North  Carolina,  westward  through  southern  Indiana  and 
southern  Illinois  to  eastern  Kansas,  southward  to  northern  South 
Carolina,  northern  Georgia  and  Tennessee. 

Special  characters  —  Tail  only  moderately  bushy  and  rather  flat ;  back 
striped;  rump  rufous  chestnut.  Its  smaller  size  and  rufous  chestnut 
rump  will  distinguish  it  from  its  more  northern  race,  T.  s.  griseus, 
but  intermediates  must  be  expected  in  northern  Illinois. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        129 


130    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

Description  —  Back  with  five  black  stripes ;  the  central  black  stripe 
bordered  by  two  brownish  stripes  and  a  stripe  of  tawny  white  on 
each  side  of  the  back  separating  the  two  outer  black  stripes;  rest 
of  upper  parts  rusty  brown,  with  a  slight  mixture  of  grayish  brown 
shading  into  tawny  brown  on  the  cheeks  and  sides,  and  deep  chestnut 
rufous  on  the  rump  and  flanks;  under  parts  white  or  whitish;  tail 
rufous,  edged  with  black. 

Measurements  —  Total  length,  about  9.75  in.  (245  mm.) ;  tail  vertebrae, 
3.75  in.  (95  mm.);  hind  foot,  1.25  in.  (31.8  mm.). 
The  Southern   Chipmunk   occurs   within   our   limits  in   southern 
Illinois.     Howell  records  it  from  Olive  Branch,  Wolf  Lake,  Woodlawn 
and  Olney,  and  I  have  seen  a  specimen  taken  in  Macon  County,  in  the 
central  portion  of  the  state.     Its  habits  are  similar  to  those  of  the 
northern  race,  Tamias  striatus  griseus. 

Tamias  striatus  griseus  MEARNS. 
GRAY  CHIPMUNK.     GRAY  STRIPED  CHIPMUNK. 

Tamias  striatus  griseus  MEARNS,  Bull.  Amer.  Mus.  Nat.  Hist.,  Ill,  1891,  p.  231. 
SNYDER,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  II,  1902,  p.  115  (Wisconsin).  JACKSON, 
Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  VI,  1908,  p.  17  (Wisconsin).  Ib.,  VIII,  1910,  p.  87 
(Wisconsin).  MILLER,  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  XXVI,  1897,  p.  30  (Nepigon 
and  Peninsular  Harbor,  Ontario). 

Tamias  lysteri  KENNICOTT,  Trans.  111.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  I,  1853-54  (l855).  P-  579 
(Cook  Co.,  Illinois). 

Sciurus  striatus  LAPHAM,  Trans.  Wis.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  II,  1852  (1853),  p.  339  (Wis- 
consin) . 

Tamias  striatus  MILES,  Rept.  Geol.  Surv.  Mich.,  I,  1860  (1861),  p.  221  (Michigan). 
HERRICK,  Geol.  &  Nat.  Hist.  Surv.  Minn.,  Bull.  No.  7,  1892,  p.  160  (Minne- 
sota). ELLIOT,  Field  Columb.  Mus.  Pub.,  Zool.,  I,  1898,  p.  219  (Iowa). 

Tamias  striatus  lysteri  ADAMS,  Rept.  State  Board  Geol.  Surv.  Mich.,  1905  (1906), 
'p.  128  (Michigan). 

Type  locality  —  Fort  Snelling,  Hennepin  Co.,  Minnesota. 

Distribution  —  From  northern  Illinois  and  Iowa  northward  throughout 
Wisconsin,  Minnesota  and  Michigan,  and  in  Canada  to  about 
latitude  49°.  Specimens  from  extreme  northern  Indiana  are  nearer 
this  form  than  striatus. 

Description  —  Similar  to  T.  striatus  but  larger  and  more  gray;  rump 
more  cinnamon  brown,  not  rufous  chestnut  as  in  striatus;  spaces 
between  black  stripes  on  back  distinctly  grayish;  flanks  tawny 
brown;  under  surface  of  tail  paler  and  tail  hairs  tipped  with  gray. 

Measurements  —  Total  length,  9.75  to  11.55  m-  (247  to  2^8  mm.)'; 
tail  vertebrae,  3.30  to  3.95  in.  (84  to  108  mm.);  hind  foot,  1.42  to 
1.50  in.  (36.5  to  38  mm.).  Average  of  30  specimens  from  northern 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        131 

Illinois  and  Wisconsin:    Total  length,  271.5;  tail  vertebrae,  94.5; 

hind  foot,  37.5  mm. 

Wooded  localities,  where  underbrush  abounds,  about  loose  stone 
walls  and  old  logs,  or  in  the  vicinity  of  outbuildings,  where  there  is 
sufficient  growth  for  concealment,  is  the  chosen  home  of  the  Chipmunk. 
It  passes  most  of  its  life  on  the  ground  and  in  climbing  about  fallen 
logs,  fences  and  rocks,  although  it  occasionally  climbs  large  trees.  It 
is  very  active  and  industrious,  and  during  the  summer  devotes  a  great 
deal  of  its  time  to  storing  up  food  for  winter  use  in  its  home,  which  is 
usually  a  hole  beneath  a  wall  or  old  stump  or  an  underground  burrow. 
While  I  am  satisfied  that  it  hibernates  in  winter,  at  least  in  this  latitude, 
its  sleep  is  apparently  not  very  profound  and  the  length  of  time  it 
remains  indoors  depends  largely  upon  the  severity  of  the  weather. 
During  a  warm  spell  it  occasionally  ventures  forth  for  an  airing  even 
in  midwinter,  but  as  a  rule  it  seeks  its  winter  home  shortly  after  the 
first  hard  frost  and  is  rarely  seen  again  until  late  in  February  or  March. 
If  undisturbed  in  the  vicinity  of  dwellings,  it  soon  becomes  tame,  and, 
if  watched,  may  often  be  seen  hurrying  away  with  its  cheek  pouches 
distended  with  nuts  or  other  food  which  it  deposits  in  its  storehouse 
and  shortly  returns  with  empty  cheeks  ready  for  another  load.  When 
suspicious  of  possible  danger,  but  not  actually  frightened,  it  often  sits 
upright  and  repeatedly  utters  its  sharp  "chip,"  accompanying  each 
vocal  effort  by  a  slight  twitch  of  its  tail. 

While  Chipmunks  prefer  nuts,  acorns,  seeds  and  grains  for  their 
winter  use,  they  eat  almost  anything,  including  small  snakes,  young 
mice,  birds'  eggs  and  young  birds  when  they  can  get  them,  as  I 
know  from  personal  experience,  having  caught  one  in  the  act  of  attacking 
a  nest  containing  half  fledged  young  robins.  Mr.  E.  T.  Seton  quotes 
a  letter  from  Mr.  William  Brewster,  the  well-known  Cambridge  natural- 
ist, who  says,  "While  collecting  at  Crooked  Lake,  Michigan,  in  May, 
1888,  I  shot  at  a  wood  thrush  and  broke  its  wing.  As  it  fluttered  over 
the  ground  a  Chipmunk  pursued  and  caught  it.  When  I  reached  the 
spot  the  Chipmunk  had  killed  the  bird  and  eaten  most  of  its  brains.  I 
had  to  kick  at  the  Chipmunk  to  make  it  give  up  the  thrush.  Afterward 
as  I  held  the  bird  dangling  in  my  hand  the  Chipmunk  approached  and 
jumped  up,  trying  to  snatch  it  from  me."  * 

The  young  are  usually  4  or  5,  and  when  born  are  without  hair  and 
the  eyes  are  closed.  Kennicott  says,  "The  quantity  of  nuts,  acorns 
and  seeds  sometimes  collected  by  these  industrious  little  fellows  is 
astonishing.  They  are  frequently  stored  temporarily  under  logs,  and 
in  shallow  holes  under  roots  of  trees,  and  afterwards  removed  to  the 

"Life  Histories  of  Northern  Animals,  I,  1909,  p.  355. 


132     FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 


Map  illustrating  approximate  distribution  of  Chipmunks  (belonging  to  the  genus  Tamias)  in 
eastern  United  States. 

In  the_  dotted  areas  between  the  ranges  given  for  the  different  races  either  or  both  may  occur, 
together  with  intermediate  forms. 


Tamias  striatus  (LiNN.).  Type  locality  —  Southeastern  United  States.  Descrip- 
tion as  previously  given. 

Tamias  s.  griseus  MEARNS.  Type  locality  —  Hennepin  Co.,  Minnesota.  Descrip- 
tion as  previously  given. 

Tamias  s.  lysteri  (RICHARDSON).  (Fauna  Bor.  Amer.,  I,  1829,  p.  181.)  Type 
locality  —  Penetanguishene,  Georgian  Bay,  Ontario,  Canada.  Paler  and 
somewhat  longer  than  striatus;  rump  and  thighs  yellowish  red. 

Tamias  s.  venustus  BANGS.  (Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  X,  1896,  p.  137.)  Type  lo- 
cality —  Stilwell,  Boston  Mountains,  Indian  Territory.  Size  about  the  same 
as  griseus,  but  colors  brighter  and  back  stripes  much  shortened. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        133 

burrow,  at  a  more  leisure  season.  I  have  known  lazy  people  to  watch 
the  chipmunks  in  nutting  time,  and  finding  where  they  carried  their 
stores,  dig  them  out,  saying  they  could  thus  get  nuts  faster  than  by 
picking  them  up  themselves.  In  a  burrow  dug  open  in  November,  I 
found  over  half  a  bushel  of  hickory-nuts  and  acorns.  These  were  not 
all  in  one  place,  but  in  four  or  five  enlarged  chambers,  in  different 
parts  of  the  burrow,  which  was  complicated,  and  consisted  of  several 
winding  and  intersecting  passages,  situated  not  over  a  foot  below  the 
surface.  The  entrance  to  the  burrow  was  under  a  log,  and  the  passages 
extended  several  feet  on  every  side.  A  large  nest  of  leaves  and  grass 
was  placed  above  the  surface,  under  the  rotten  log.  Only  one  of  the 
inhabitants  was  found  but  he  was  quite  active. 

"This  ground  squirrel  is  sociable;  and  sometimes,  though  not  always, 
several  pairs  occupy  the  same  burrow  in  winter,  the  store  of  food  being 
common  property.  These,  like  the  true  squirrels,  stand  erect  on  their 
hind-feet,  when  eating,  using  the  fore  paws  as  hands.  The  power  of 
their  incisors  is  wonderful;  they  cut  with  apparent  ease  through  the 
shells  of  the  seeds  of  the  wild  plums,  which  would  resist  the  point  of 
tempered  steel. 

"At  times,  the  note  of  the  chipmunk  is  a  short  deep  cluck,  repeated  ly 
pronounced,  without  variation;  and  on  a  sunny  day,  he  will  sometimes 
utter  it  for  an  hour  at  a  time,  being  meanwhile  perched  upon  a  stump  or 
log;  but  more  frequently  the  note  is  a  shriller  chip-chip.  When  alarmed, 
he  utters  a  low  chatter."  * 

Specimens  examined  from  Illinois,  Wisconsin  and  adjoining  states: 

Illinois  —  Fox  Lake,  Lake  Co.,  13. 

Wisconsin  —  Tomahawk  Lake,  4;  Camp  Douglas,  2;  Woodruff,  i; 
Beaver  Dam,  14;  Spread  Eagle,  2;  Lac  Vieux  Desert  (Vilas  Co.), 
i;  (M.  P.  M.)  Keesus  Lake,  2;  Sumpter,  Sauk  Co.,  i;  Milwaukee 
Co.,  2;  Newport,  Door  Co.,  i;  Busseyville,  i;  Oconomowoc,  i; 
Kelley  Brook,  Oconto  Co.,  3;  Prescott,  6;  Milwaukee  Co.,  2;  Maiden 
Rock,  10 ;  (O.  C.)  Nashotah,  2;  Milwaukee  Co.,  5;  Fisher  Lake, 
Iron  Co.,  i  — 61. 

Indiana  —  La  Porte,  i. 

Michigan  —  Murphy  Lake,  i ;  Park  Siding,  2  =  3. 

Minnesota  —  Fort  Snelling,  4. 

Iowa  —  Cedar  Rapids,  Linn  Co.,  i;  (Coe  College  collection)  Cedar 
Rapids,  1  =  2. 

*Agr.  Kept,  for  1856,  U.  S.  Patent  Office  Rept.,  1857,  p.  72. 


134    FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 


Little  Chipmunk  (Eutamias  borealis  neglectus). 

Gray  Striped  Chipmunk  (Tamias  striafus  griseus). 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        135 


Genus  EUTAMIAS  Trouessart. 

Eutamias  Trouessart,  Catal.  Mamm.  Viv.  et  Foss.,  Bull.  Soc.  Etudes 

Angers,  X,   1880,  p.  86.     Type  Sciurus  striatus  asiaticus  Gmelin. 

The  members  of  this  genus  differ  from  those  belonging  to  Tamias 

in  being  smaller,  the  back  stripes  narrower  and  closer,  and  the  tail 

relatively  longer;  there  are  also  two  additional  premolars. 

Dental  formula:   I.  — ,  C.  — ,  Pm.  — ,  M.  ^Z3  =  22. 
i-i        o-o  i-i          3-3 

Eutamias  borealis  neglectus  (ALLEN). 
LITTLE  CHIPMUNK. 

Tamias  quadrivittatus  neglectus  ALLEN,  Bull.  Amer.  Mus.  Nat.  Hist.,  Ill,  1890,  p. 
106.  MILLER,  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  XXVIII,  1897,  p.  31  (North  Bay 
and  north  shore  of  Lake  Superior,  Ontario). 

Tamias  asiaticus  var.  quadrivittatus  HERRICK,  Geol.  &  Nat.  Hist.  Surv.  Minn.,  Bull. 
No.  7,  1892,  p.  162  (Minnesota). 

Tamias  quadrivittatus  STRONG,  Geol.  Wis.,  Surv.  1873-79,  I.  1883,  p.  440  (Wis- 
consin). BARRETT,  Amer.  Nat.,  VII,  1873,  p.  695. 

Eutamias  quadrivittatus  neglectus  JACKSON,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  VI,  1908,  p. 
17  (Wisconsin).  ADAMS,  Rept.  State  Board  Geol.  Surv.  Mich.,  1905  (1906), 
p.  128  (Michigan).  SETON,  Life  Histories  of  Northern  Animals,  I,  1909,  p.  364. 

Eutamias  borealis  neglectus  HOLLISTER,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  VI,  1908,  p.  139 
(Wisconsin). 

Type  locality  —  Eastern  shore  of  Lake  Superior,  Ontario,  Canada. 

Distribution  —  Ranges  from  northern  Wisconsin,  northern  Michigan 
and  central  Minnesota  northward  into  Canada,  throughout  the 
greater  part  of  Ontario  and  Keewatin  to  about  latitude  55°;  replaced 
from  Manitoba  and  North  Dakota  westward  by  Eutamias  borealis. 

Special  characters  —  Smaller  than  the  common  Chipmunk,  and  stripes 
narrower,  tail  relatively  longer;  cheek  stripes  whitish. 

Description  —  A  whitish  stripe  above  and  below  the  eye;  back  with 
five  black  stripes  and  four  pale  stripes,  the  outer  pale  stripes  being 
distinctly  whitish,  the  inner  pale  ones  grayish;  the  middle  black 
stripe  extends  from  between  the  eyes  to  base  of  tail;  sides  of 
body  orange  brown  or  tawny;  hairs  on  under  parts  tipped  with 
white  but  plumbeous  at  base,  giving  a  grayish  white  appearance 
to  the  fur;  tail  pale  rufous  brown,  the  hairs  subterminally  marked 
with  black  and  tipped  with  pale  rufous  brown  or  tawny  brown. 

Measurements  —  Total  length,  about  8.50  in.  (216  mm.);  tail  vertebrae, 
3.75  in.  (91  mm.);  hind  foot,  1.25  in.  (31. 8  mm.).  Extremes  of  20 


136    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

specimens:    Total  length,  208  to  230;  tail  vertebras,  84  to  96;  hind 

foot,  31  to  32  mm. 

The  Little  Chipmunk  is  common  in  northern  and  central  Wisconsin 
at  least  as  far  south  as  Juneau  County,*  but  does  not  occur  in  southern 
Wisconsin  or  Illinois.  It  is  easily  distinguished  from  the  larger  Chip- 
munk by  its  small  size  and  narrower  and  more  conspicuous  stripes. 
Its  most  common  note  is  a  sharp  "chip,"  somewhat  resembling  that 
of  the  larger  species,  but  higher  in  pitch  and  more  shrill.  When  fright- 
ened it  often  utters  a  shrill  whistle.  Its  habits  appear  to  be  much  the 
same  as  those  of  its  larger  relative,  Tamias  striatus  griseus.  There  is 
no  doubt  that  this  species  hibernates  in  winter  but  it  does  not  retire 
to  its  winter  home  until  quite  late  in  the  season,  and  its  sleep  is  not  so 
prolonged  as  that  of  some  of  its  relatives.  Mr.  Ernest  T.  Seton  writes, 
"In  August  and  September  the  little  Chipmunk  emulates  its  cousin 
in  labouring  for  the  rainy  days  to  come.  As  late  as  September  26  at 
Fort  Resolution  I  saw  one  carrying  home  great  bulging  pouchfuls  of 
skunk-grass  seeds.  About  the  end  of  the  month,  it  finally  plugs  its 
doorway  against  the  cold,  the  wet  and  the  Least  Weasel,  and  curls  up 
for  its  six  months'  sleep."  (1.  c.,  p.  371.) 

Mr.  Gerrit  S.  Miller  found  this  species  very  abundant  on  the  north 


Map  showing  approximate  range  of  the  Little  Chipmunk  (Eutamias  borealis  neglecius) ;  replaced 
from  the  Dakotas  westward  by  Eutamias  borealis;  no  other  representative  of  this  genus  occurs  in 
eastern  United  States. 

*  The  Field  Museum  collection  contains  8  specimens  of  this  subspecies  from 
Camp  Douglas,  Juneau  County,  Wisconsin. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        137 

shore  of  Lake  Superior.  He  writes,  "Although  it  is  universally  dis- 
tributed outside  of  thick  woods  at  Nepigon  and  Peninsula,  the  little 
chipmunk  shows  a  marked  preference  for  open  rocky  hillsides,  while 
the  big  chipmunk  prefers  the  edge  of  the  forests,  where  stumps  and 
logs  furnish  it  a  more  congenial  shelter.  .  .  .  While  T.  striatus  on 
the  north  shore  of  Lake  Superior  hibernates  near  the  end  of  September, 
immediately  after  the  first  heavy  frosts,  T.  quadriirittatus  remains  active 
much  later  —  probably  until  the  snow  cuts  off  its  food  supply.  The 
small  chipmunk  was  actively  running  about  in  the  light  snow  during 
the  second  week  of  October,  1896,  although  the  temperature  during 
the  day  averaged  about  15°  F.  On  October  23, 1  found  an  adult  female 
in  a  nest  built  of  feathers  and  soft  vegetable  fibers  at  the  end  of  a 
tunnel  under  a  clump  of  bearberry.  The  tunnel  was  about  two  feet 
long  and  terminated  a  foot  or  more  beneath  the  surface  in  a  chamber 
about  the  size  of  a  cocoanut.  The  chamber  was  completely  filled  by 
the  nest,  which  contained,  in  addition  to  its  occupant,  a  small  store  of 
seeds  of  various  weeds  and  wild  fruits."  (/.  c.,  p.  31.) 

Specimens  examined  from  Wisconsin  and  adjoining  states : 
Wisconsin  —  Camp  Douglas,  Juneau  Co.,  8;  Lac  Vieux  Desert,  Vilas 
Co.,  7;  Conover,  i;  (M.  P.  M.)  St.  Croix  Dam,  Douglas  Co.,  5; 
Pembine,  i;  Divide,  Vilas  Co.,  i;  Marinette,  10;  Upper  St.  Croix 
Lake,  5;  Yellow  River,  Burnett  Co.,  5;  Mouth  Namekagan  River, 
i;  Cataline,  3;  Kelly  Brook,  Oconto  Co.,  5;  (O.  C.)  Fisher  Lake, 
Iron  Co.,  2  =  48. 
Michigan  —  Park  Siding,  12;  Sevey,  i  =  13. 

SUBFAMILY  MARMOTIN^E. 
Genus  CITELLUS  Oken. 

Citellus  Oken,  Lehrb.  der  Naturg.,  Zool.,  II,  1816,  p.  842.     Type  Mus 

citellus  Linn. 

Form  squirrel-like,  but  tail  less  bushy;  color  pattern  variable; 
cheek  pouches  developed;  hind  feet  with  five  developed  toes;  front  feet 
with  four  developed  toes  and  a  rudimentary  thumb.  Skull  relatively 
heavier  than  that  of  Sciurus;  postorbital  processes  slender  and  spine- 
like;  upper  premolars  two,  the  first  much  smaller  than  second;  ante- 
orbital  foramen  round  or  oval  with  tubercle  on  outer  lower  edge.  Two 
species  belonging  to  this  genus  occur  in  Illinois  and  Wisconsin. 

Dental  formula:   I.  — ,  C.  -  — ,  Pm.  -  — ,  M.  ^=  22. 
i-i        o-o  i-i          3-3 


138     FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

Subgenus  ICTIDOMYS  Allen. 

"Ears  generally  small,  sometimes  rudimentary;  tail  long,  cylindrical, 
or  narrow  and  flattened,  or  quite  broad,  with  the  hairs  one-half  to  three- 
fourths  the  length  of  the  body;  skull  very  long  and  narrow;  first  upper 
premolar  usually  rather  small  and  the  dentition  not  heavy"  (Allen). 

KEY  TO   OUR  SPECIES. 

Back  with  stripes  and  rounded  spots. 

STRIPED  PRAIRIE  SQUIRREL.     Citellus  tr idecem lineatus,  p.  138. 

Back  not  striped,  general  color  grayish  tinged  with  brown;  hairs  vermiculated  with 

blackish.  FRANKLIN'S  PRAIRIE  SQUIRREL.     Citellus  franklini,  p.  144. 

Citellus  tridecemlineatus  (MITCHILL). 

STRIPED  PRAIRIE  SQUIRREL.    STRIPED  SPERMOPHILE.    STRIPED  GOPHER. 
THIRTEEN-LINED  GROUND  SQUIRREL.     STRIPED  GROUND  SQUIRREL. 

Sciurus  tridecem-lineatus  MITCHILL,  Med.  Repos.,  N.  S.,  VI,  1821,  p.  248. 

Spermophilus  tridecimlineatus  LAPHAM,  Trans.  Wis.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  II,  1852 
(l853).  P-  339  (Wisconsin).  KENNICOTT,  Trans.  111.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  I,  1853-54 
(1855),  P-  579  (Cook  Co.,  Illinois).  Ib.,  Agr.  Rept.  for  1856,  U.  S.  Patent 
Office  Rept.,  1857,  p.  74  (Illinois). 

Spermophilus  tridecem-lineatus  MILES,  Rept.  Geol.  Surv.  Mich.,  I,  1860  (1861), 
p.  221  (Michigan).  ALLEN,  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  XIII,  1869  (1871), 
p.  189  (Iowa).  STRONG,  Geol.  Wis.,  Surv.  1873-79,  I,  1883,  p.  440  (Wisconsin). 

Spermophilus  tridecemlineatus  OSBORN,  Proc.  Iowa  Acad.  Sci.,  I,  1887-89  (1890), 
p.  43  (Iowa).  HERRICK,  Geol.  &  Nat.  Hist.  Surv.  Minn.,  Bull.  No.  7,  1892, 
p.  165  (Minnesota).  EVERMANN  &  BUTLER,  Proc.  Ind.  Acad.  Sci.,  1893  (1894), 
p.  128  (Indiana).  BAILEY,  U.  S.  Dept.  Agr.,  Bull.  No.  4,  Ornith.  &  Mamm., 
1893,  p.  31.  HOY,  Agr.  Rept.  for  1853,  U.  S.  Patent  Office  Rept.,  II,  1854, 
p.  68  (Wisconsin  and  northern  Illinois). 

Citellus  tridecemlineatus  JACKSON,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  VI,  1908,  p.  18  (Wis- 
consin). Ib.,  VIII,  1910,  p.  87  (Wisconsin).  HAHN,  Ann.  Rept.  Dept.  Geol. 
&  Nat.  Resources  Ind.,  1908  (1909),  p.  475  (Indiana).  WOOD,  Bull.  111.  State 
Lab.  Nat.  Hist.,  VIII,  1910,  p.  524  (Illinois). 

Type  locality  —  Central  Minnesota. 

Distribution  —  From  southern  Illinois  and  northern  Missouri  to  north- 
western Ohio,  southern  Michigan  and  central  Wisconsin,  extending 
west  and  northwest  to  edge  of  the  Great  Plains  and  the  Saskatchewan 
Region;  replaced  in  western  Missouri  by  an  allied  form,  C.  /.  badius. 

Description  —  Somewhat  squirrel-like  in  appearance,  but  tail  com- 
paratively short  and  not  bushy;  back  with  alternating  stripes  of 
whitish  and  dark  brown,  the  latter  with  central  row  of  rounded 
whitish  spots;  under  parts  very  pale  tawny  brown;  middle  of  tail 
mixed  brown  and  white,  like  colors  of  the  back,  bordered  by  an  inner 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        139 


140    FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

stripe  of  black,  the  ends  of  the  hairs  forming  the  fringe  buffy  white; 

a  pale  ring  around  the  eye. 
Measurements  —  Total  length,  10.75  in-  (273  mm.);  tail  vertebrae,  4  in. 

(101  mm.);  hind  foot,  1.37  in.  (35  mm.). 

The  Striped  Prairie  Squirrel,  Striped  Gopher,  or  Thirteen-lined 
Spermophile,  as  it  has  been  variously  called,  is  common  in  the  prairie 
regions,  and  large  open  fields  nearly  throughout  Illinois  and  in  southern 
Wisconsin,  and  scattered  colonies  are  occasionally  found  further  north. 
Jackson  records  it  from  the  vicinity  of  Iron  River,  Bayfield  County,  in 
the  extreme  northern  part  of  the  state.  It  is  diurnal  and  gregarious, 
and  during  the  summer  months  its  tremulous  whistle  is  often  to  be 
heard  and  the  little  animal  seen  sitting  upright  or  running  rapidly 
through  the  grass,  but  rarely  far  from  its  burrow. 

It  has  a  bad  reputation  among  farmers,  which  is  not  altogether 
undeserved,  on  account  of  the  habit  of  pulling  up  and  eating  newly 
planted  corn  and  other  grains  and  seeds;  but,  on  the  other  hand,  it  must 
be  given  credit  for  destroying  great  quantities  of  beetles,  caterpillars, 
grasshoppers  and  other  injurious  insects.  It  must  be  admitted,  how- 
ever, that  it  cannot  be  considered  of  benefit  to  the  agriculturist.  Mr. 
Vernon  Bailey  says,  "Undoubtedly  the  good  which  the  Striped  Sper- 
mophiles  do  by  destroying  insects  and  seeds  of  noxious  weeds  is  of  no 
small  importance ;  but  it  is  doubtful  if  it  is  sufficient  to  offset  the  damage 
perpetrated  by  them  in  the  grain  fields.  In  many  localities  it  is  im- 
possible to  raise  a  full  field  of  corn  without  first  killing  the  spermophiles. 
As  soon  as  the  corn  is  planted  they  begin  to  dig  up  the  seed,  but  do  most 
mischief  after  the  corn  begins  to  come  up  and  until  a  week  or  ten  days 
old,  or  until  all  the  nutriment  is  drawn  from  the  grain.  They  dig 
down  by  the  side  of  the  stalk  and  eat  the  swollen,  starchy  grain,  of 
which  they  seem  very  fond,  leaving  the  stalks  to  die.  As  a  single 
spermophile  will  dig  up  many  hills  of  corn  in  a  day  and  continue  digging 
for  nearly  two  weeks,  it  is  not  difficult  to  see  that  serious  damage  is 
done  where  they  are  numerous,  averaging  as  they  often  do  four  or  five 
to  an  acre.  Large  fields  of  corn  are  sometimes  entirely  destroyed  by 
them  and  have  to  be  planted  over  several  times.  A  great  deal  of 
wheat,  oats,  barley  and  rye  is  taken  in  the  same  way,  making  it  neces- 
sary to  sow  an  extra  amount  of  seed.  Even  this  means  is  not  effectual 
and  frequently  fields  of  sowed  grain  suffer  materially  from  their  attacks. 
As  the  small  grains  begin  to  fill,  soon  after  blossoming,  the  spermophiles 
cut  down  the  stalks  and  eat  the  ovules,  and  in  order  to  find  the  best 
heads  they  cut  down  a  great  deal  more  than  they  can  eat.  As  the 
grain  becomes  hard  they  carry  large  stores  of  it  into  their  burrows  to 
be  eaten  at  leisure,  probably  when  they  awake  from  their  winter's  sleep. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        141 

The  amount  of  damage  done  depends  upon  the  abundance  of  the  animals 
and  is  often  serious.  If  the  field  is  small  and  isolated,  the  spermophiles 
sometimes  collect  and  destroy  almost  the  whole  crop."  (/.  c.,  p.  42.) 

Concerning  the  habits  of  this  species  in  Illinois,  Kennicott  says: 
"Before  the  production  of  the  young  in  May  or  June  the  old  male 
leaves  the  female,  and  appears  to  lead  a  solitary  and  more  or  less 
wandering  life,  digging  a  temporary  burrow,  or  occupying  a  deserted 
one  for  a  few  days,  wherever  he  may  take  up  his  abode.  These  summer 
burrows  may  often  be  found,  and  sometimes  are  of  considerable  extent; 
several  of  those  which  were  examined  were  more  than  20  feet  in  length, 
being  simple  galleries  from  six  inches  to  a  foot  below  the  surface  — 
deeper  in  sandy  soil  —  opening  at  both  ends,  with  the  nest  placed  in 
a  small  side  chamber;  others  were  of  much  less  extent,  sometimes  with 
but  one  entrance,  and  sometimes  without  nests.  The  winter  burrow, 
in  which  the  pair  hibernate  and  the  female  brings  forth  her  young,  is 
deeper  and  more  complicated,  having  always  two  entrances,  or  more. 
In  this,  in  a  side  chamber  of  suitable  size,  excavated  above  the  level 
of  the  rest  of  the  burrow,  is  a  large  spherical  nest  of  soft  grass,  entered 
by  an  opening  on  one  side.  This  nest  is  sometimes  of  the  size  of  a 
half  bushel,  the  interior  being  generally  lined  with  softer  material  than 
the  outside.  The  young  are  produced  at  the  end  of  May  or  early  in 
June.  I  have  observed  from  five  to  nine  brought  forth  at  a  birth  and 
I  am  informed  of  two  instances  in  which  ten  were  found  in  a  nest; 
but  the  number  is  variable,  the  usual  number  being  six  or  seven.  The 
young  at  birth  are  naked,  blind  and  remarkably  embryonic.  Dr. 
Hoy,  who  observed  them  in  confinement,  says  that  they  have  no 
hair  on  the  body  before  they  are  twenty  days  old  and  that  the  eyes  do 
not  open  until  the  thirtieth  day.  They  continue  to  require  the  nourish- 
ment and  care  of  the  mother  for  a  much  longer  period  than  most  rodents. 
During  the  summer  they  begin  to  dig  shallow  burrows  and  leave  her 
before  winter,  to  shift  for  themselves."  (I.  c.,  pp.  76-77.) 

This  species  hibernates  during  the  winter.  At  the  approach  of 
cold  weather  it  retires  into  its  burrow  and  remains  there  in  a  torpid 
state  for  several  months,  or  until  the  return  of  mild  weather  in  the 
spring.  In  northern  Illinois  it  generally  goes  into  winter  quarters 
late  in  October  and  reappears  again  about  the  first  of  April.  On 
March  27,  1910,  I  saw  two  at  Burnside  near  Chicago,  and  on  March 
28  and  29,  1911,  several  were  seen  running  about  in  the  same  locality. 
On  both  occasions  the  weather  for  several  days  had  been  unusually 
warm  for  the  season. 

Hibernation  —  Hibernation  is  a  term  applied  by  zoologists  to 
express  a  peculiar  condition  of  torpid  sleep  in  certain  animals,  which 


142     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

is  not  thoroughly  understood.  Its  marked  characteristics  are  abnor- 
mally low  bodily  temperature  with  nearly  suspended  respiration; 
heart  action  much  reduced  with  consequent  slowing  of  the  circulation. 
Animation  is  suspended  to  a  degree  resembling  death  and  the  appar- 
ently dead  animal  soon  becomes  actually  so,  if  taken  from  its  hole 
and  exposed  for  any  length  of  time  to  a  temperature  a  few  degrees 
below  that  of  freezing.  This  strange  physiological  condition  enables 
certain  animals,  which  without  some  such  provision  of  nature  would 
otherwise  perish  from  lack  of  food,  to  pass  the  winter  sleeping  in  their 
holes  or  burrows  in  latitudes  where  the  ground  is  frozen  and  covered 
with  snow  and  ice  for  several  months  in  the  year. 

Regarding  the  hibernating  of  the  Striped  Gopher  or  Prairie  Squirrel, 
Kennicott  writes,  "At  the  approach  of  severe  cold,  in  autumn,  the 
prairie  squirrel  retires  to  its  burrow,  entrances  to  which  are  tightly 
closed  with  earth  to  exclude  the  frost.  In  the  large  nest  of  grass  he 
curls  himself  up,  with  his  head  against  the  abdomen,  and  falls  into  a 
state  of  torpor,  out  of  which  he  does  not  awaken  until  the  return  of 
warm  weather  in  spring.  In  this  state,  he  takes  no  nourishment 
whatever,  nor  does  he  move. 

"If  cut  or  bruised  he  exhibits  no  signs  of  feeling;  and  to  all  exter- 
nal appearances  seems  dead.  Respiration  and  the  circulation  of  the 
blood  are  carried  on  very  imperfectly;  but  slight  oxygenation  of  the 
blood  takes  place,  and  little  heat  is  generated  —  the  body  being  cold. 
There  is  no  secretion  or  excretion,  and  very  little  waste  of  tissue 
occurs,  and  thus  the  necessity  of  food  is  obviated.  From  this  state  he 
is  at  once  revived  to  activity  by  the  simple  application  of  heat.  Placed 
in  the  cold  he  again  becomes  torpid.  It  is  to  be  observed  that  the 
species,  which  passes  the  winter  thus  in  profound  torpor,  if  removed  to 
a  warm  climate,  or  if  kept  in  a  warm  room,  will  remain  active  during 
winter.  Thus  we  see  how,  in  the  perfect  laws  of  Nature,  it  is  or- 
dained that  hibernating  animals  shall  fall  into  this  state  of  torpor  only 
when  they  would  suffer  from  cold  and  want  of  food,  if  active."* 
(/.  c.,  pp.  73-74)- 

Concerning  the  condition  of  this  animal  during  hibernation,  the 
report  of  Dr.  P.  R.  Hoy  is  of  interest.  He  writes,  "During  activity 
the  gopher's  pulse  is  200,  respiration  50,  temperature  105.  .  .  . 
On  the  1 5th  of  December,  the  gopher  being  thoroughly  torpid,  tem- 
perature of  the  room  45,  gopher  rolled  up  like  a  ball,  no  visible 
evidence  of  life,  I  opened  the  abdomen  and  inserted  the  bulb  of  a 
thermometer  which  indicated  58°.  I  next  turned  back  the  sternum 

*  In  this  connection  it  should  be  stated  that  the  Florida  Black  Bear,  Ursus 
floridanus,  continues  to  hibernate  without  regard  to  temperature  and  at  a  time  when 
"palmetto  berries"  (Serenoa  serrulata),  its  favorite  food,  are  abundant. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        143 

in  such  a  manner  as  to  expose  the  heart  and  lungs.  The  remark- 
ably congested  condition  of  these  organs  first  attracted  my  atten- 
tion; in  fact,  it  would  appear  as  if  all  the  blood  had  collected  within 
the  thorax.  The  pulsation  of  the  heart  was  reduced  to  four  each 
minute;  the  auricles  would  slowly  and  imperfectly  contract,  followed 
immediately  by  the  ventricles.  These  slow  pulsations  of  the  heart 
occupied  four  seconds,  there  was  no  visible  respiration,  the  lungs  re- 
maining almost  entirely  passive.  The  heart  continued  to  pulsate, 
without  perceptable  change,  for  fifteen  minutes,  and  then  when  raised 
from  its  position  it  continued  to  pulsate  for  some  time,  being  almost 
reptilian  in  this  aspect.  During  hibernation  the  circulation  is  so 
feeble  that  when  a  limb  is  amputated  but  few  drops  of  blood  will  slowly 
ooze  from  the  fresh  wound.  The  stomachs  and  bowels  empty,  and 
the  body  was  enclosed  in  a  thick  adipose  layer.  I  was  not  able  to 


Map  illustrating  approximate  distribution  of  Striped  Prairie  Squirrels  in  eastern  United  States. 
Several  other  forms  occur  in  the  West. 

Citellus  tridecemlineatus  (MITCHILL).  Type  locality  —  Central  Minnesota.  De- 
scription as  previously  given. 

Citellus  t.  badius  (BANGS).  (Proc.  New  Engl.  Zool.  Club,  I,  1899,  p.  I.)  Type 
locality  —  Stotesbury,  Vernon  Co.,  Missouri.  Similar  to  tridecemlineatus, 
but  larger  and  more  red  brown  on  the  tail. 


144    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

excite  the  least  motion  or  contraction  of  the  muscles  in  any  way,  even 
by  pinching  or  cutting  nerves,  showing  the  most  perfect  condition  of 
anaesthesia  possible.  During  hibernation  the  gopher  is  not  able  to 
endure  more  than  6°  or  8°  of  frost.  The  manifestations  of  life  are  so 
feebly  performed  that  a  few  degrees  below  freezing  is  sufficient  to 
convert  apparent  death  into  the  reality."  (Proc.  Am.  Assoc.  Adv. 
Sci.,  Aug.,  1875,  pp.  148-149.) 

Specimens  examined  from  Illinois,  Wisconsin  and  adjoining  states: 
Illinois  —  Chicago,  30;  Fox  Lake,  2  =  32. 
Wisconsin  —  Beaver  Dam,  14;  (M.  P.  M.)  Delavan  (albino),  i;  Cata- 

line,  3;  Maiden  Rock,  4;  Mouth  Yellow  River,  Burnett  Co.,  3; 

Milwaukee  Co.,   4;  Muskego  Lake,   2;  Lindwurm,  Niles  Co.,    i; 

Upper  St.  Croix  Lake,  n;  Prescott,  16;  Fountain  City,  i;  Genoa, 

Vernon  Co.,  2  =  52. 
Iowa  —  Luxemburg,  i. 
Minnesota  —  Fort  Snelling,  3. 

Citellus  franklini  (SABINE). 

FRANKLIN'S  PRAIRIE  SQUIRREL. 

GRAY  PRAIRIE  SQUIRREL.    GRAY  GROUND  SQUIRREL.    GRAY  GOPHER. 
FRANKLIN'S  GROUND  SQUIRREL.     FRANKLIN'S  SPERMOPHILE. 

A rctomys  franklinii  SABINE,  Trans.  Linn.  Soc.,  XIII,  1822,  p.  587. 

Spermophilus  grammurus  LAPHAM,  Trans.  Wis.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  II,  1852  (1853), 

P-  339  (Wisconsin). 
Spermophilus  Franklinii  KENNICOTT,  Trans.  111.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  I,  1853-54  (^SS), 

P-  579  (Cook  Co.,  Illinois).     STRONG,  Geol.  Wis.,  Surv.  1873-79,  I.  l883>  P-  44° 

(Wisconsin).     ALLEN,  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  XIII,  1871,  p.  189  (Iowa). 
Spermophilus  franklinii  KENNICOTT,  Agr.  Rept.  for  1856,  U.  S.  Patent  Office  Kept., 

1857,  P-  79  (Illinois). 
Spermophilus  franklini  COUES  &  ALLEN,  Monog.  N.  Amer.  Rodentia,  1877,  pp.  884- 

885  (Illinois,  Wisconsin,  Minnesota,  etc.).     OSBORN,  Proc.  Iowa.  Acad.  Sci., 

I,  1887-89  (1890),  p.  43  (Iowa).     HERRICK,  Geol.  &  Nat.  Hist.  Sur.  Minn.,  Bull. 

No.  7,  1892,  p.  166  (Minnesota).     EVERMANN  &  BUTLER,  Proc.  Ind.  Acad.  Sci., 

1893  (1894),  p.  129  (Indiana).     BAILEY,  U.  S.  Dept.  Agr.,  Bull.  No.  4,  Ornith. 

&  Marnm.,  1893,  p.  48  (Wisconsin,  Illinois,  Minnesota,  Dakota,  etc.).     SNYDER, 

Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  II,  1902,  p.  115  (Wisconsin). 
Citellus  franklini  JACKSON,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  VI,  1908,  p.  18  (Wisconsin). 

HOLLISTER,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  VI,  1908,  p.  139  (Wisconsin).     HAHN, 

Ann.  Rept.  Dept.  Geol.  &  Nat.  Resources  Ind.,  1908  (1909),  p.  478  (Indiana). 

WOOD,  Bull.  111.  State  Lab.  Nat.  Hist.,  VIII,  1910,  p.  528  (Illinois). 

Type  locality  —  Cumberland  House,  Saskatchewan,  Canada. 

Distribution  —  From  the  Saskatchewan  Region  southeast  over  the 
Red  River  and  Mississippi  valleys  to  eastern  Nebraska  and  Kansas 
to  central  Missouri,  extending  eastward  as  far  as  northwestern 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        145 

Indiana.  Includes  within  its  range  the  whole  of  Iowa,  northern 
Missouri,  northern  two-thirds  of  Illinois,  a  small  portion  of  north- 
western Indiana,  southern  and  western  Wisconsin  and  at  least  the 
southern  and  western  half  of  Minnesota.  An  isolated  colony  occurs 
in  the  vicinity  of  Tuckerton,  New  Jersey,  which  has  descended  from 
a  pair  introduced  there  in  1867.*  It  has  also  been  introduced 
near  Georgian  Bay,  Ontario. f 

Description  —  Adult:  Upper  parts  (except  head  and  tail)  grayish 
brown  or  pale  tawny  brown,  the  hairs  vermiculated  with  blackish; 
a  buffy  white  ring  around  the  eye;  top  and  sides  of  head  blackish, 
faintly  speckled  with  white ;  under  parts  buffy  white  or  tawny  white ; 
terminal  two-thirds  of  tail  grayish,  the  hairs  banded  with  black  and 
tipped  with  white. 

Immature:    The  tawny  tinge  much  less  pronounced  and  the 
back  with  irregular  bars  of  black. 
Measurements  —  Total  length,   15  in.  (380  mm.);  tail  vertebrae,  4.75 

in.  (120.6  mm.);  hind  foot,  1.88  in.  (47.6  mm.). 

Remarks  —  This  species  has  a  superficial  resemblance  to  a  Gray  Squirrel 
and  might  be  mistaken  for  one  by  those  not  familiar  with  mammals. 
The  tail,  however,  is  much  shorter  and  less  bushy  (tail  always  less 
than  6>£  inches),  the  body  color  is  more  tinged  with  tawny,  and 
the  ears  are  much  shorter. 

Franklin's  Prairie  Squirrel,  Franklin's  Spermophile  or  "Gray 
Gopher",  as  it  is  variously  called,  occurs  in  various  localities  through- 
out southern  and  western  Wisconsin  and  at  least  the  northern  two- 
thirds  of  Illinois,  although  more  local  in  distribution  and  less  common 
than  the  preceding  species.  Jackson  considers  them  quite  common 
in  Wisconsin  west  from  Rock  County  to  the  Mississippi  River  and 
north  to  Pepin  County.  He  states  he  has  taken  specimens  in  Rock 
County  and  has  observed  the  species  in  Green,  Sauk  and  Jefferson 
counties  (/.  c.,  p.  18).  Hollister  gives  it  as  common  in  isolated  colonies 
in  various  parts  of  Wai  worth  County  and  says,  "I  have  collected  many 
specimens  near  Delavan.  The  largest  colonies  here  are  located  on 
Ridge  Prairie  just  west  of  the  town,  and  on  the  border  of  Big  Marsh, 
seven  miles  north  of  Delavan  on  the  Whitewater  road.  The  Biological 
Survey  has  records  of  this  species  from  Janesville,  Kansasville,  Madison, 
Plover, Racine, Ripon  and  Whitewater"  (/.  c.,p.  139).  It  is  apparently 
not  uncommon  in  Dodge  County,  as  Mr.  W.  E.  Snyder  has  collected 
a  number  of  specimens  near  Beaver  Dam.  In  Illinois  it  is  found  in 
scattered  communities  throughout  the  greater  portion  of  the  central 

*  Allen,  Monog.  N.  Amer.  Rodentia,  1877,  p.  833. 

t  Seton,  Life  Histories  of  Northern  Animals,  I,  1909,  p.  374. 


146     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        147 

and  northern  portion  of  the  state.  There  are  numerous  records  for 
the  interior,  and  in  northern  Illinois  it  has  been  taken  in  Cook  and 
Carroll  counties,  and  Mr.  B.  T.  Gault  writes  me  he  secured  a  fine  albino 
specimen  near  Glen  Ellyn  in  the  fall  of  1909.  He  considers  the  species 
rather  rare,  however,  in  that  locality.  There  are  specimens  in  this 
Museum  from  western  Illinois  taken  in  the  vicinity  of  Warsaw,  Han- 
cock County,  and  the  Northwestern  University  collection  in  Evanston 
contains  two  specimens  from  Kane  County. 

The  southern  limit  of  its  range  in  Illinois  is  given  by  Bailey  as  St. 
Clair  County  ("O'Fallon  Depot,"  /.  c.,  p.  49).  He  says,  "In  but  few 
places  are  they  as  common  as  the  smaller  Striped  Spermophile  (S. 
tridecemlineatus) ,  though  the  two  species  range  together  over  a  wide  area. 
Their  habits  are  quite  similar  and  it  is  often  difficult  to  distinguish  the 
voice  of  one  from  that  of  the  other.  The  note  of  Franklin's  Sper- 
mophile is  somewhat  heavier  and  has  a  slightly  different  ring,  but  is 
the  same  shrill,  rapid  chipper  or  trill.  It  is  .sharp  and  ringing  and  may 
be  heard  for  a  considerable  distance"  (I.  c.,  p.  51). 

In  describing  the  habits  of  this  species  in  Illinois,  Kennicott  says, 
"It  is  far  less  numerous  here  than  the  striped  spermophile,  and  appears 
to  be  a  less  abundant  species  wherever  the  two  exist.  It  is  observed 
to  inhabit  the  thickets  of  low  bushes,  and  the  edges  of  the  timber, 
more  than  the  other,  but  does  not  occur  in  the  woods.  It  is  fond  of 
digging  long  burrows  in  the  banks  of  ditches,  and  several  times  I  have 
seen  it  living  in  steep  river  banks,  as  well  as  under  small  wooden  cul- 
verts in  roads.  It  is  not  so  shy  as  the  striped  spermophile,  and  takes 
up  its  residence  quite  near  dwellings.  It  is  also  less  disturbed  by  the 
cultivation  of  land.  In  this  region  it  is  usually  found  living  alone  or 
in  pairs,  and  I  have  never  observed  a  number  of  burrows  scattered  over 
a  small  prairie  knoll  like  the  semi-villages  of  the  striped  spermophile. 
This  is  perhaps  owing  to  their  small  numbers;  for  the  species  appears 
to  be  naturally  gregarious,  and,  at  times,  large  companies  live  together, 
burrowing  within  a  few  feet  of  each  other,  and  several  pairs  even  enter- 
ing the  same  hole. 

"This  spermophile  exhibits  a  remarkable  disposition  to  migrate 
from  one  field  to  another.  Not  only  do  the  males  lead  a  wandering 
life  in  summer,  but  pairs  appear  frequently  to  change  their  quarters, 
leaving  their  winter  burrow  to  breed  in  another,  and  then,  perhaps, 
hibernating  in  a  third,  at  some  distance  from  this.  In  several  in- 
stances, a  company  of  a  dozen  or  more  have  been  observed  to  appear 
in  a  locality  where  none  were  seen  the  previous  summer,  and  then  to 
disappear  after  remaining  there  a  year,  or  only  a  few  weeks.  In  the 
early  part  of  summer,  twenty  or  thirty  of  these  animals  suddenly 


148     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

made  their  appearance,  and  burrowed  in  an  old  embankment,  within 
three  or  four  rods  of  my  father's  house.  They  seemed  to  have  lost 
the  shyness  exhibited  when  leading  a  solitary  life,  and  were  not  alarmed 
at  the  near  approach  of  man.  They  even  came  about  the  kitchen 
door  to  pick  up  crumbs  and  disputed  with  the  chickens  for  their  food. 
Like  the  striped  spermophiles,  they  glided  silently  to  their  burrows 
when  alarmed,  uttering,  as  they  entered,  a  remarkably  clear  whistle 
twitter,  more  musical  than  the  voice  of  any  other  mammal  I  ever 
listened  to,  and  as  clear  as  that  of  a  bird.  The  same  note  was  uttered 
when  the  animal  was  hurt  or  much  frightened.  They  fed  upon  June- 
grass,  clover,  timothy,  and  the  broad-leaved  plantain,  and  seemed 
particularly  fond  of  the  leaves  of  the  common  mustard,  of  which  some 
plants  grew  near  their  burrows.  Other  specimens  examined  in  sum- 
mer had  their  stomachs  filled  with  grass  alone.  In  eating  they  sat 
bolt  upright  on  the  tarsi,  and  used  their  fore-feet  as  hands,  to  draw  the 
leaves  to  their  mouths,  though  their  paws  were  used  thus  with  less 
facility  than  those  of  the  true  squirrels.  Though  both  the  vegetable 
and  flower  gardens  were  situated  within  five  rods  of  their  burrows, 
I  do  not  remember  that  they  were  observed  to  injure  either.  A  num- 
ber of  young  chickens  disappearing,  however,  and  the  eggs  being  eaten 
in  several  hens'  nests  near  the  burrows  of  the  spermophiles,  suspicion 
rested  upon  them  —  probably  unjustly  —  and  a  war  of  extermination 
was  commenced.  Several  were  shot,  while  others  were  killed  with 
clubs,  \vhereupon  the  survivors  left  in  a  body,  as  suddenly  as  they 
had  come,  and  were  never  seen  again,  nor  could  they  be  found  upon 
any  part  of  the  farm.  I  have  known  this  spermophile  to  take  refuge 
in  a  hollow  tree,  crowding  up  the  hole  like  the  grey-rabbit.  Mr.  F. 
C.  Sherman,  of  Chicago,  informs  me  that  he  twice  saw  one,  when 
pursued,  climb  five  or  six  feet  up  the  trellis-work  and  vines  at  the 
side  of  the  house. 

"The  burrow  of  this  species  is  usually  deeper  than  that  of  the 
striped  spermophile,  but  otherwise  similar  to  it.  The  young  I  have 
not  observed,  but  Mr.  George  S.  Parker  of  Pecatonica,  Illinois,  writes 
me  that  he  once  saw  five,  and  at  another  time  seven  young  in  a  nest. 
They  appear  to  go  into  winter-quarters  in  the  fall,  and  re-appear  in 
the  spring,  at  about  the  same  time  as  the  striped  spermophile.  They 
have  been  found  hibernating  under  piles  of  rails,  and  in  corn-shocks; 
and  I  am  informed  of  two  instances  in  which  one  has  been  found  torpid 
in  a  hay-stack,  where  he  had  formed  a  burrow  in  the  hay.  I  have 
never  heard  of  its  hibernating  in  such  situations.  A  caged  specimen 
of  Franklin's  spermophile,  kept  by  Professor  Baird,  of  the  Smithsonian 
Institution,  was  active  all  winter;  and  Dr.  A.  M.  P.  Hughes,  of  Payson, 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        149 

Illinois,  informs  me  that  he  found  one  in  a  burrow  under  a  corn-shock, 
active  in  mild  weather,  late  in  November. 

"This  species  is  carnivorous,  though  apparently  less  so  than  the 
striped  spermophile.  The  specimen  kept  by  Professor  Baird  was 
decidedly  carnivorous,  but  one  observed  by  Dr.  Hoy  did  not  eat  mice, 
though  it  killed  them  when  placed  in  its  cage.  Its  food  is  generally 
similar  to  that  of  the  striped  spermophile,  stores  being  also  found  in  its 
burrow"  (/.  c.,  pp.  79-81). 

Mr.  Vernon  Bailey  gives  the  following  list  of  the  various  kinds  of 
food  found  in  the  stomachs  of  29  animals  of  this  species:  "Beetles, 
large  and  small  species  (Coleoptera) ,  Larvae  of  beetles  (Coleoptera), 
Caterpillars  (larvae  of  Lepidoptera) ,  Grasshoppers  and  Crickets  (Orthop- 
tera),  Ants,  Eggs  of  insects,  Chrysalis,  Feathers  of  small  bird,  Sper- 
mophile hair  (probably  their  own),  Grain  (wheat  and  oats),  Seeds  of 
basswood  (Tilid),  Strawberries,  Solanum  berries,  Herbage  (stems  and 
leaves  of  plants,  among  which  only  an  Equisetum  could  be  recognized) , 
Roots"  (/.  c.,  p.  55). 

Specimens  examined  from  Illinois  and  Wisconsin: 
Illinois  —  Warsaw,  i . 
Wisconsin —  (M.  P.  M.)  Delavan,  3;  (S.  C.)  Beaver  Dam,  Dodge  Co., 

10=  13. 


Map  illustrating  approximate  eastern  range  of  Franklin's  Prairie  Squirrel  (Citellus  franklini). 


150    FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

Cynomys  ludovicianus  (ORD),  PRAIRIE  DOG.  Thomas  includes 
this  species  in  his  list  of  Illinois  Mammals  (1.  c.,  p.  657.)  but  it  is 
probably  an  error,  as  the  eastern  limits  of  the  range  of  this  species  is 
much  farther  west,  it  being  rarely  found  east  of  the  Missouri  River.* 


Genus  MARMOTA  Blum. 

Marmota  Blumenbach,  Handb.  der  Naturg.,  I,  1779,  p.  79. 

Size  large,  weight  8  to  10  pounds,  but  more  often  less;  general  color 
grizzly  brown  or  grayish  brown,  without  stripes;  skull  broad  and  de- 
pressed; post-orbital  processes  long  and  pointed;  first  premolar  nearly 
as  large  as  second;  infraorbital  foramen  confined  to  lower  part  of 
maxillary;  edges  of  auditory  meatus  somewhat  protruding;  tail  com- 
paratively short  (5  to  6  inches)  and  thickly  haired;  front  feet  with  four 
developed  toes  and  a  rudimentary  thumb ;  hind  feet  with  five  toes. 
Six  species  and  two  subspecies  are  recognized  in  North  America,  but 
only  one  species  and  one  subspecies  occur  within  our  limits. 

Dental  formula:   I.  -  -->  C.  —  —  >  Pm. >  M.  $—^=  22. 

i-i        o-o  i-i          3-3 

KEY   TO  OUR  SPECIES. 

A.  Larger,  with  less  rusty  brown  on  under  parts.    Occurs  in  Illinois  and  Wisconsin. 

WOODCHUCK.     Marmota  monax,  p.  150. 

B.  Smaller,  with  more  rusty  brown  on  under  parts.     Occurs  in  extreme  northern 
Wisconsin.  CANADA  WOODCHUCK.     Marmota  monax  canadensis,  p.  157. 

^     Marmota  monax  (LINN.). 
WOODCHUCK.     GROUND  HOG. 

[Mtts]  monax  LINNAEUS,  Syst.  Nat.,  X  ed.,  I,  1758,  p.  60. 

Arctomys  monax  LAPHAM,  Trans.  Wis.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  II,  1852  (1853),  p.  339 
(Wisconsin).  KENNICOTT,  Trans.  111.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  I,  1853-54  (l855)t  P- 
579  (Cook  Co.,  Illinois).  Ib.,  Agr.  Kept,  for  1856,  U.  S.  Patent  Office  Rept., 
1857,  p.  82  (Illinois).  MILES,  Rept.  Geol.  Surv.  Mich.,  I,  1860  (1861),  p.  221 
(Michigan).  ALLEN,  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  XIII,  1869  (1871),  p.  190 
(Iowa).  OSBORN,  Proc.  Iowa  Acad.  Sci.,  I,  1887-89  (1890),  p.  43  (Iowa). 
STRONG,  Geol.  Wis.,  Surv.  1873-79,  I.  l883,  p.  440  (Wisconsin).  HERRICK, 
Geol.  &  Nat.  Hist.  Surv.  Minn.,  Bull.  No.  7,  1892,  p.  168  (Minnesota).  GARMAN, 
Bull.  Essex  Inst.,  XXVI,  1894,  p.  6  (Kentucky).  RHOADS,  Proc.  Acad.  Nat. 
Sci.  Phila.,  1896  (1897),  p.  193  (Tennessee).  MILLER,  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat. 
Hist.,  XXVIII,  1897,  p.  26  (Milton,  Ontario).  EVERMANN  &  BUTLER,  Proc. 
Ind.  Acad.  Sci.,  1893  (1894),  p.  128  (Indiana).  SNYDER,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist. 
Soc.,  II,  1902,  p.  120  (Wisconsin). 

*  Pellett  records  it  from  Cass  County,  southwestern  Iowa.  (Proc.  Iowa  Acad. 
Sci.,  1910,  p.  214.) 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        151 

Marmota  monax  ADAMS,  Rept.  State  Board  Geol.  Surv.  Mich.,  1905  (1906),  p.  128 
(Michigan).  JACKSON,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  VI,  1908,  p.  19  (Wisconsin). 
HAHN,  Ann.  Rept.  Dept.  Geol.  &  Nat.  Resources  Ind.,  1908  (1909),  p.  480  (In- 
diana). HOWELL,  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XXIII,  1910,  p.  25  (southern  Illinois, 
Missouri,  Kentucky). 

Type  locality  —  Maryland. 

Distribution  —  From  the  edge  of  the  Plains  to  the  Atlantic,  north 
to  about  the  Canadian  border  except  in  northern  Maine,  northern 
New  Hampshire  and  northern  Vermont;  south  to  Virginia,  Ken- 
tucky, central  Missouri  and  Kansas,  and  in  the  Allegheny  Mountains 
in  Tennessee.  Replaced  in  Canada  by  a  smaller  and  browner 
form,  M.  m.  canadensis . 

Description  —  Adult:  General  color  grizzly  brown,  the  hairs  on  the 
back  being  largely  tawny  brown  with  gray  tips  and  blackish  bases; 
belly  and  under  parts  more  tawny  brown,  shading  to  rusty  brown 
around  the  fore  legs;  feet  brownish  black;  cheeks  grayish;  mouth 
edged  with  more  or  less  whitish ;  tail  dark  brown,  many  of  the  hairs 
tipped  with  gray.  The  general  color  is  variable,  some  being  luuch 
darker  than  others  and  occasionally  black  or  pure  white  specimens 
occur.  Two  fine  examples  of  the  latter  are  contained  in  the  Field 
Museum  collection. 

Measurements  —  Total  length,  22  to  25  inches;  tail  vertebrae,  5^25  to 
6.15  inches;  hind  foot,  3.40  to  3.75  inches. 

Average  measurement  of  eight  specimens  from  various  localities : 
Total  length,  23.25  in.  (579.8  mm.);  tail  vertebrae,  5. 60 in.  (i42mm.) ; 
hind  foot,  3.60  in.  (90.4  mm.). 

Remarks  —  Specimens  from  northern  Wisconsin  are  intermediate 
between  monax  and  canadensis,  and  those  from  the  extreme  northern 
part  of  the  state,  while  not  typical  canadensis,  approach  much 
nearer  to  that  form  than  to  monax. 

The  Woodchuck,  or  Ground  Hog  as  it  is  often  called,  is  common 
throughout  Illinois  and  Wisconsin.  At  the  present  time  in  settled 
districts  it  frequents  open  fields  in  preference  to  woods  (which  is  its 
natural  habitat),  where  it  lives  in  burrows  in  the  ground.  These 
burrows  vary  in  form  and  extent;  some  are  not  uncommonly  50  feet 
in  length,  while  others  will  not  exceed  10  feet  or  even  less.  They  are 
rarely  more  than  5  feet  in  depth  below  the  surface  of  the  ground  at  the 
deepest  point.  I  once  found  a  nest  at  the  end  of  a  burrow  which  was 
5  feet  3  inches  below  the  surface  of  the  ground,  but  the  average  depth 
will  probably  not  exceed  4  feet.  Usually  each  burrow  is  provided 
with  at  least  two  entrances  and  often  with  three,  including  a  "back 
door."  The  following  sketch  illustrates  the  plan  of  a  burrow  of  a  large 
Woodchuck  in  an  alfalfa  field  at  Lake  Geneva,  Wisconsin. 


152     FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        153 

Pile  of  loom 

Pile  of  u 


Entrance 
i  slope  o)  Ml. 


6  in  deep. 


Plan  of  a  Woodchuck  Burrow. 

Mr.  W.  H.  Fisher  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  has  published  an  interesting 
paper  on  the  burrows  of  this  animal.*  He  examined  9  burrows:  the 
longest  was  47  feet  11.50  inches  (for  all  the  galleries)  and  the  shortest 
was  6  feet  8.50  inches;  the  greatest  depth  (measured  from  the  surface) 
was  49  inches.  Some  burrows  had  three  entrances,  a  few  only  one,  but 
the  majority  had  two. 

Each  burrow  is  generally  inhabited  by  a  pair  of  Woodchucks, 
although  occasionally  by  a  single  old  male.  The  young  are  born  in 
their  underground  home  late  in  April  or  early  in  May  and  usually 
number  from  four  to  six,  but  occasionally  as  many  as  8  are  found  in  a 
litter.  They  are  very  small  and  blind  at  birth  and  do  not  come  out  of 
the  hole  until  they  are  four  or  five  weeks  old  and  the  weather  becomes 
quite  warm. 

Regarding  the  habits  of  this  animal  Kennicott  says,  "In  this  part 
of  Illinois  it  was  exceedingly  rare  ten  years  ago,  but  is  now  becoming 
quite  common.  It  is  an  inhabitant  of  the  woods,  where  it  occupies  the 
place  that  the  spermophiles  do  on  the  prairies;  and  though  it  burrows 
in  open  fields,  and  in  the  timber,  I  am  not  aware  that  it  ever  lives  on 
the  prairie,  though  I  have  seen  it  in  prairie  groves.  In  the  East,  it 
inhabits  open  fields  in  preference  to  deep  woods.  This  love  for  open 
ground  is  probably  acquired.  Here  I  have  most  commonly  observed 
it  in  the  heaviest  timber,  and  it  is  said  to  be  found  most  abundantly 
in  Missouri  .  .  .  It  is  very  watchful,  and,  when  feeding,  will 
frequently  stand  erect,  with  neck  stretched  as  high  as  possible,  and  look 

*  Journ.  Cincinnati  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  XVI,  1893,  pp.  105-123,  pis.  6-10. 


154     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY- — ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

suspiciously  about.  .  .  .  Only  a  single  pair  of  adults  occupy  the 
same  burrow.  The  hibernation  of  the  woodchuck  is  as  profound  as 
that  of  the  spermophiles.  Naturally  this  animal  is  strictly  herbivorous. 
Though  living  in  the  woods,  it  does  not  eat  nuts,  nor  gnaw  bark,  nor 
am  I  aware  that  it  ever  digs  roots.  It  is  not  a  tree  climber,  though  it 
sometimes  crawls  up  a  leaning  tree,  or  into  the  thick  branches  of  bushes 
overgrown  with  vines,  on  which  it  is  fond  of  lying  in  warm  sunny  days. 
In  this  vicinity  I  have  often  found  a  number  of  them  taking  refuge  in 
standing  hollow  trees,  entering  a  hole  at  the  ground,  and  climbing  up 
the  cavity  in  the  manner  of  the  gray  rabbit."  (1.  c.,  p.  83.) 

Woodchucks  do  not  store  up  food  in  their  burrow  for  winter  use,  as 
they  hibernate  during  the  cold  months.  Regarding  this  strange  con- 
dition of  suspended  animation  Dr.  C.  Hart  Merriam  writes,*  "In 
hibernation  the  temperature  of  the  animal  approximates  that  of  the 
surrounding  atmosphere,  the  heart  action  slackens  and  respiration  can 
only  be  detected  by  means  of  delicate  instruments  devised  for  the 
purpose.  This  fact  was  known  to  Spallanzani  nearly  a  hundred  years 
ago,  for  he  wrote  to  Senebier,  'You  will  remember  about  my  Marmot 
which  was  so  exceedingly  lethargic  in  the  severe  winter  of  1795;  during 
that  time  I  held  him  in  carbonic  acid  gas  for  four  hours,  the  thermometer 
marking  —  1 2° ;  he  continued  to  live  in  this  gas  which  is  the  most  deadly 
of  all  .  .  .  at  least,  a  rat  and  a  bird  that  I  placed  with  him  perished 
in  an  instant. ' ' 

The  following  account  of  the  habits  of  a  tame  Woodchuck  is  given 
by  Audubon  and  Bachmanf,  as  related  to  them  by  the  Hon.  Daniel 
Wadsworth  of  Hartford,  Connecticut.  ."'I  kept,'  said  he  to  us,  'a  fine 
Woodchuck  in  captivity,  in  this  house  for  upwards  of  two  years.  It 
was  brought  to  me  by  a  country  lad,  and  was  then  large,  rather  wild, 
and  somewhat  cross  and  mischievous;  being  placed  in  the  kitchen,  it 
soon  found  a  retreat,  in  which  it  remained  concealed  the  greater  part 
of  the  time  every  day.  During  several  nights  it  attempted  to  escape 
by  gnawing  the  door  and  window  sills;  gradually  it  became  more  quiet, 
and  suffered  itself  to  be  approached  by  the  inmates  of  the  kitchen, 
these  being  the  cook,  a  fine  dog,  and  a  cat;  so  that  ere  many  months  had 
elapsed,  it  would  lie  on  the  floor  near  the  fire,  in  company  with  the  dog 
and  would  take  food  from  the  hand  of  the  cook.  I  now  began  to  take 
a  particular  interest  in  its  welfare,  and  had  a  large  box  made  for  its 
use,  and  filled  with  hay,  to  which  it  became  habituated  and  always 
returned  when  inclined  to  repose.  Winter  coming  on,  the  box  was 
placed  in  a  warm  corner,  and  the  Woodchuck  went  into  it,  arranged  its 

*  Mamm.  Adirondack  Reg.,  1886,  p.  243. 
t  Quadrupeds  N.  Amer.,  I,  1854,  PP-  20-21. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        155 

bed  with  care,  and  became  torpid.  Some  six  weeks  having  passed 
without  its  appearing,  or  having  received  any  food,  I  had  it  taken  out 
of  the  box,  and  brought  into  the  parlour:  it  was  inanimate  and  as  round 
as  a  ball,  its  nose  being  buried  as  it  were  in  the  lower  part  of  its  abdomen, 
and  covered  by  its  tail;  it  was  rolled  over  the  carpet  many  times;  but 


A  ,    1 .        i i 

SJ  >4re«  of  intergradan 


Map  illustrating  approximate  distribution  of  Woodchucks  in  eastern  United  States. 

Marmota   monax  (LiNN.).  Type  locality  —  Maryland.     Description  as  previously 
given. 

Marmota  m.  canadensis  (ERXLEBEN).     Type  locality  —  Hudson  Bay.     Smaller  than 

monax  and  general  coloration  decidedly  more  reddish  brown;  brownish  black 

of  crown  extending  below  the  eye. 
Marmota  m.  ignavus  (BANGS).     (Proc.  New  Engl.  Zool.  Club,  I,  1899,  p.  13.)     Type 

locality  —  Black  Bay,  Straits  of  Belle  Isle,  Labrador.     Size  about  like  canadensis 

but  general  color  darker  and  skull  shorter  and  broader. 


156     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 

without  effecting  any  apparent  change  in  its  lethargic  condition;  and 
being  desirous  to  push  the  experiment  as  far  as  in  my  power,  I  laid  it 
close  to  the  fire,  and  having  ordered  my  dog  to  lie  down  by  it,  placed 
the  Woodchuck  in  the  dog's  lap.  In  about  half  an  hour  my  pet  unrolled 
itself,  raised  its  nose  from  the  carpet,  looked  around  for  a  few  minutes, 
and  then  slowly  crawled  away  from  the  dog,  moving  about  the  room 
as  if  in  search  of  its  own  bed !  I  took  it  up  and  had  it  carried  down  stairs 
and  placed  again  in  its  box,  where  it  went  to  sleep,  as  soundly  as  ever, 
until  spring  made  its  appearance.  That  season  advancing,  and  the 
trees  showing  their  leaves,  the  Woodchuck  became  as  brisk  and  gentle 
as  could  be  desired,  and  was  frequently  brought  into  the  parlour.  The 
succeeding  winter  this  animal  evinced  the  same  disposition  and  never 
appeared  to  suffer  by  its  long  sleep. ' ' 

Woodchucks  are  vegetarians.  Their  food  consists  principally  of 
grasses  and  clotver,  although,  when  near  a  garden,  they  will  eat  cabbages, 
beans,  pumpkin  vines,  young  corn,  etc.,  and  often  do  considerable 
damage.  They  feed  regularly  morning  and  evening,  but  often  come 
out  any  time  during  the  day  and  on  moonlight  nights.  While  as  a 
rule  they  are  shy  and  suspicious,  they  can  fight  well,  when  cornered, 
as  many  a  dog  has  learned  to  his  cost.  The  flesh  is  very  palatable  when 
properly  prepared;  the  fur  is  little  used,  but  the  skin,  when  properly 
tanned,  makes  an  excellent  soft  leather. 

There  is  a  popular  superstition  that  on  the  second  day  of  February 
the  Woodchuck  comes  out  of  his  hole  and  looks  about.  If  he  sees  his 
shadow,  it  is  a  sign  that  the  weather  will  continue  cold  for  some  time  to 
come  and  there  will  be  a  late  spring;  but  if,  on  the  other  hand,  he  fails 
to  see  his  shadow,  then  there  will  be  an  early  spring  and  little  or  no 
cold  weather.  The  reason  for  this  ridiculous  superstition  can  only  be 
surmised,  as  its  origin  is  obscure. 

Specimens  examined  from  Illinois,  Wisconsin  and  adjoining  states: 
Illinois  —  Lake  Forest,  i;  Willow  Springs,  i;  Fox  Lake,  3;  (O.)  Lake 

Forest,  2  =  7. 
Wisconsin —  (M.  P.  M.)  Waukesha,  i;  Lake  Koshkonong,  i;  Prescott, 

Pierce  Co.,  3;  Newport,  Door  Co.  (not  typical),  2;  Maiden  Rock, 

Pierce  Co.,  i;  Waukesha  Co.,  i;  (O.  C.)  Turtle  Lake,  Barron  Co. 

(skulls),  4;  Waukesha  Co.,  4;  (O.)  Lake  Geneva,  4=21. 


I 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        157 

Marmota  monax  canadensis  (ERX.). 
CANADA  WOODCHUCK. 

[Glis]  canadensis  ERXLEBEN,  Syst.  Regni  Anim.,  I,  1777,  p.  363. 

Arctomys  monax  canadensis  ALLEN,  Bull.  Amer.  Mus.  Nat.  Hist.,  XI,  1898,  p.  456. 

Type  locality  —  Hudson  Bay. 

Distribution  —  Ranging  from  northern  Wisconsin  and  northern  New 
England,  northward  to  Hudson  Bay  and  west  in  Canada  to  about 
longitude  120°  and  latitude  60°.  Intergrades  in  northern  Wiscon- 
sin with  monax. 

Description  —  (Specimen  from  Murray  Bay,  Province  of  Quebec, 
Canada.)  General  appearance  of  M.  monax,  but  smaller  and  colora- 
tion of  under  parts  decidedly  more  rusty  brown;  whole  crown 
brownish  black,  brownish  black  of  crown  including  the  eye  and 
extending  considerably  below  it ;  rest  of  upper  parts  grizzly,  the  hairs 
being  broadly  tipped  with  gray.  The  tawny  under  fur  on  the  back 
usually  has  a  very  slight  rufous  brown  tinge,  under  parts  rusty  brown 
or  red  brown;  muzzle  pale;  feet  black;  tail  brownish  black  mixed 
with  brown  hairs. 

Measurements  —  Total  length,  about  20.25  m-  (5J5  mm.) ;  tail  vertebrae, 
about  4.25  in.  (108  mm.);  hind  foot,  3  in.  (74  mm.). 

Remarks  —  Woodchucks  from  extreme  northern  Wisconsin,  while  not 
typical  canadensis,  approach  much  nearer  to  that  form  than  to 
monax.  A  specimen  taken  by  Mr.  W.  H.  Osgood  at  Conover, 
Vilas  Co.,  Wisconsin,  August  1 1,  1910,  has  the  whole  crown  brownish 
black  and  the  rusty  coloration  of  the  under  parts  closely  approach- 
ing canadensis.  Its  measurements  are  as  follows:  (No.  18392,  cJ1) 
Total  length,  526  mm.;  tail  vertebras,  137  mm.;  hind  foot,  69  mm. 
An  adult  male,  killed  at  Minagua,  Vilas  Co.,  measured:  Total 
length,  520  mm.;  tail  vertebrae,  125  mm.;  hind  foot,  70  mm. 
Specimens  examined : 

Wisconsin  —  Conover,  Vilas  Co.,  i;  (O.  C.)  Mercer,  Iron  Co.  (skull),  i; 
Langlade  Co.,  (skulls),  2;  (O.)  Minagua,  Vilas  Co.,  1  =  5. 

Minnesota  —  Aitken,  (melanistic),  i. 

Canada  —  Murray  Bay,  Province  of  Quebec,  4. 


I  58     FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 


Family  CASTORID^.      Beavers. 

,  Tail  broad  and  flat  (paddle  shaped) ,  hairless  and  covered  with  scales ; 
hind  feet  broadly  webbed;  skull  stout;  incisors  noticeably  large  and 
strong.  The  general  character  of  the  skull  is  sciurine,  but  postorbital 
processes  are  absent  and  the  infraorbital  foramen  is  nearly  concealed 
by  a  large  nearly  vertical  ridge  of  the  maxilla;  the  auditory  meatus  is 


Skull  of  a  Beaver.     (About  %  nat.  size.) 

long  and  tubular  and  extends  upward  above  level  of  the  zygoma; 
lower  leg  bones  separate;  five  toes  on  both  fore  and  hind  feet;  second 
toe  of  hind  foot  with  double  or  divided  claw. 

The  family  consists  of  but  one  genus,  Castor,  represented  in  North 
America  by  one  species  and  five  geographical  races.  They  are  large, 
aquatic  Rodents,  the  largest  living  representatives  of  the  order  in  North 
America,  often  weighing  40  or  50  pounds,  and  are  much  hunted  and 
trapped  for  their  skins,  which  are  one  of  the  best  known  commercial 
furs.  The  anal  glands  of  the  Beaver  contain  a  strong  scented,  oily 
fluid  known  as  "Castoreum,"  which  is  much  used  by  trappers  as  a  bait 
to  attract  the  animal.  It  is  also  used  more  or  less  in  the  manufacture 
of  perfumes,  and  is  claimed  to  possess  medicinal  properties. 

The  only  other  living  representative  of  this  family  is  the  European 
Beaver  (C.  fiber) ,  which  is  very  similar  to  our  species ;  it  differs  in  being 
somewhat  smaller,  the  skull  is  comparatively  lighter,  and  the  nasal 
bones  are  longer. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        159 


Genus  CASTOR  Linn. 

Castor  Linnaeus,  Syst.  Nat.,  X  ed.,  I,  1758,  p.  58.     Type  Castor  fiber 
Linn.     Characters  as  given  for  the  family. 

Dental  formula:  I.  -  — ,  C.  —  —  >  Pm.   ' 
-  - 


i-i        o-o  i-i          3-3 

Castor  canadensis  KUHL. 
BEAVER.     CANADIAN  BEAVER. 

Castor  canadensis  KUHL,  Beitr.  z.  Zool.,  1820,  p.  64.  OSBORN,  Annals  of  Iowa,  3rd 
sen,  VI,  No.  8,  1905,  p.  566  (Iowa).  ADAMS,  Rept.  State  Board  Geol.  Surv. 
Mich.,  1905  (1906),  p.  129  (Michigan).  JACKSON,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc., 
VI,  1908,  p.  19  (Wisconsin).  HOLLISTER,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  VI,  1908, 
p.  139  (Wisconsin). 

Castor  fiber  KENNICOTT,  Trans.  111.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  I,  1853-54  (JSSS),  p.  579  (Cook 
Co.,  Illinois).  LAPHAM,  Trans.  Wis.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  1852  (1853),  P-  339  (Wis- 
consin). ALLEN,  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  XIII,  1869  (1871),  p.  190  (Iowa). 
OSBORN,  Proc.  Iowa  Acad.  Sci.,  I,  1887-89  (1890),  p.  43  (Iowa).  HERRICK, 
Geol.  &  Nat.  Hist.  Surv.  Min.,  Bull.  No.  7,  1892,  p.  170  (Minnesota).  EVER- 
MANN  &  BUTLER,  Proc.  Ind.  Acad.  Sci.,  1893  (1894),  p.  128  (Indiana). 

Castor  Canadensis  THOMAS,  Trans.  111.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  IV,  1859-60  (1861),  p.  657 
(Illinois).  MILES,  Rept.  Geol.  Surv.  Mich.,  I,  1860  (1861),  p.  221  (Michigan). 
HOY,  Trans.  Wis.  Acad.  Sci.  Arts  &  Letters,  V,  1882,  p.  256  (Wisconsin).  WOOD, 
Bull.  111.  State  Lab.  Nat  Hist.,  VIII,  1910,  p.  536  (Illinois). 

Type  locality  —  Hudson  Bay. 

Distribution  —  North  America,  from  about  latitude  40°  northward  to 
Labrador  and  Hudson  Bay  region  and  in  the  western  portion  of  its 
range  to  the  Arctic  Circle;  replaced  in  the  South  and  extreme  West, 
about  longitude  120°,  by  slightly  different  geographical  races. 

Description  —  General  color  brown ;  the  hairs  on  upper  parts  dark 
brown  at  base,  tipped  with  lighter  brown  or  chestnut;  under  parts 
paler  than  the  back ;  sides  of  neck  and  rump  light  cinnamon  brown ; 
tail  flat  and  rounded  (paddle  shaped),  black,  and  covered  with 
scales;  claw  on  second  toe  of  hind  foot  double  or  divided. 

Measurements  —  Total  length,  about  42  in.   (1068  mm.);  tail,   16.25 
in.  (410  mm.);  hind  foot,  6.75  in.  (175  mm.).     The  bare,  scaly  part 
of  the  tail  measures  about  9  inches  long,  4.50  inches  wide,  and  1.50 
inches  in  thickness  in  the  middle. 
Beavers  were  formerly  common  throughout  Illinois  and  Wisconsin, 

but  at  the   present  time  they  are  practically  exterminated  in  the 

former  state.     Unfortunately  we  do  not  know  precisely  what  form 

occurred  in  southern  Illinois  and  lack  of  material  for  examination  ren- 


i6o    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        161 

ders  it  entirely  a  matter  of  conjecture.  It  would  seem  likely,  however, 
from  geographical  reasons  that  Beaver  from  southern  Illinois  would 
probably  show  intergradation  between  canadensis  and  the  southern 
race,  C.  c.  carolinensis,  and,  perhaps,  approach  nearer  the  latter  than  to 
the  typical  form. 

Probably  no  other  animal  has  been  more  intimately  connected  with 
the  early  history  and  settlement  of  this  country  than  the  Beaver. 
This  fine  animal,  the  largest  of  our  North  American  Rodents,  possesses 
a  commercially  valuable  skin  with  a  more  or  less  edible  body,  the  tail 
at  least  being  considered  a  delicacy  by  many  people;  and  it  is  not 
surprising  that  after  so  many  years  of  persecution  both  by  Indians 
and  white  trappers,  it  has  been  exterminated  throughout  a  large  portion 
of  its  former  range.  It  is  still  common,  however,  in  some  parts  of  the 
United  States  and  in  Canada,  and  where  it  has  of  late  years  received 
Governmental  protection  its  numbers  are  on  the  increase. 

The  enormous  number  of  these  animals  which  have  been  trapped 
and  otherwise  killed  is  suggested  by  the  fact  that  during  the  years  1860 
and  1870  the  number  of  skins  received  by  the  American  Fur  Company 
and  Hudson  Bay  Company  averaged  153,000  per  annum*  and,  of  course, 
an  immense  number  of  these  animals  were  killed  by  white  trappers  and 
Indians,  the  skins  of  which  did  not  find  their  way  to  either  of  the  com- 
panies mentioned.  Later  the  number  decreased  somewhat,  but  even 
at  the  present  time  the  number  of  Beavers  annually  killed  in  the  United 
States  and  Canada  will  probably  exceed  75,000. 

During  the  early  part  of  last  century  Beaver  skins  were  a  recognized 
basis  of  barter  between  the  trappers  (at  that  time  largely  Indians)  and 
the  fur  companies,  a  blanket  or  rifle  being  valued  at  so  many  "skins," 
always  meaning  Beaver  skins.  That  the  rate  of  exchange  was  profitable 
to  the  fur  companies  is  evident  from  the  statement  of  Mr.  Robert 
Brown,  who  says,  "When  beaver  were  30  s.  per  pound,  Rocky  Mountain 
beaver  were  piled  up  on  each  side  of  a  trade  gun  until  they  were  on  a 
level  with  the  muzzle,  and  this  was  the  price!  The  muskets  cost  in 
England  some  155."  (Proc.  Linn.  Soc.  London,  Zool.,  1868  (1869), 
pp.  369-70.) 

In  early  days  Beavers  were  common  along  the  wooded  streams 
throughout  Illinois  and  Wisconsin,  but  at  the  present  time  they  are 
practically  exterminated  in  Illinois,  although  it  is  probable  that  a  very 
few  individuals  may  exist  in  the  extreme  southern  portion  of  the  state. 
Mr.  B.  T.  Gault  of  Glen  Ellyn,  Illinois,  wrote  me  that  in  the  year 
1900  he  saw  some  Beaver  cuttings  near  Thebes,  Alexander  County,  in 
southern  Illinois  and  enclosed  a  letter  from  Mr.  C.  J.  Boyd  of  Anna, 

*  Seton,  E.  T.     Life  Histories  of  Northern  Animals,  I,  1909,  p.  451. 


162     FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

Illinois,  dated  April  7,  1910,  who  writes,  "From  the  best  information 
I  can  get,  there  are  a  few  Beaver  in  Alexander  County."  There  are 
but  few  records  of  even  comparatively  recent  date  for  Illinois.  Thomas 
records  a  specimen  killed  in  Jackson  Co.,  in  1851  (/.  c.,  p.  657).  Ever- 
mann  and  Butler  state  that  a  Beaver  was  seen  swimming  in  the  Wabash 
River  about  12  miles  above  Lafayette,  Indiana,  in  the  summer  of  1889 
(I.  c.,p.  1 28) .  According  to  early  writers,  however,  they  were  common  in 
suitable  localities  throughout  the  state  in  the  early  part  of  the  last 
century.  Woods  (1820-21)  says,  "To  the  north  of  us  [English  Prairie, 
Illinois]  there  are  buffalo  and  elks,  also  beavers  and  others  on  the 
rivers.''  *  We  also  find  in  the  records  of  Long's  expedition  the  follow- 
ing statement,  "Deer,  turkeys  and  beaver  are  still  found  in  plenty  in 
the  low  grounds  along  both  sides  of  the  Mississippi"  f  [two  miles  north 
of  the  confluence  of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi].  In  1854  Kennicott 
writes,  "The  remains  of  beaver  dams  exist  in  several  streams"  [Cook 
Co.].  (1.  c.,  p.  579.)  Mr.  G.  E.  Wood  states,  "The  beaver  seems  to 
have  been  practically  exterminated  in  this  part  of  the  state  [Cham- 
paign Co.]  before  the  first  permanent  settlers  came.  There  was  an 
extensive  dam  on  the  South  Fork  a  few  miles  above  Urbana,  and 
several  others  less  generally  known,  on  the  lower  part  of  the  Salt 
Fork."  (/.  c.,  p.  536.) 

In  Wisconsin  they  are  still  to  be  found  in  more  or  less  numbers  in 
most  of  the  northern  counties,  although  for  many  years  they  have  been 
exterminated  in  the  southern  part  of  the  state.  Lapham  states  that 
"The  last  Beaver  killed,  in  the  southern  part  of  Wisconsin,  was  in  1819, 
on  Sugar  Creek,  Walworth  County,  a  very  large  one."  (/.  c.,  p.  339, 
foot  note.)  Several  colonies  are  known  in  Marinette,  Forest,  Iron  and 
a  number  of  other  counties  in  northern  Wisconsin.  Mr.  W.  J.  Webster 
of  Park  Falls  writes  me  (1909)  that  there  are  "quite  a  number  of 
Beaver  in  Price  Co."  According  to  Mr.  N.  Lucins,  Jr.,  of  Solon 
Springs,  in  1909  there  was  a  large  family  of  Beavers  on  the  Moose 
River  in  Douglas  County.  It  is  reported  to  occur  in  Wisconsin  at  least 
as  far  south  as  Buffalo  County.  Mr.  J.  Hobbs  of  Medford,  Taylor  Co., 
informs  me  that  there  are  a  number  of  Beaver  in  Taylor  Co.,  and 
that  he  knows  where  there  are  "a  few  Beaver  dams  with  Beavers  in 
them."  Mr.  George  F.  Erzwein  of  Athens,  who  is  an  experienced 
trapper,  informs  me  they  are  still  to  be  found  in  Marathon  Co. 

In  northern  Michigan  Beaver  were  at  one  time  very  numerous,  and 
it  was  in  the  Michigan  peninsula  south  of  Lake  Superior  that  Mr. 

*  Woods,  J.  Two  Years'  Residence  in  the  Settlement  on  English  Prairie  in  the 
Illinois  Country,  1820-1821  (1822),  p.  290. 

t  James,  E.  Expedition  from  Pittsburgh  to  the  Rocky  Mountains,  1819-1820 
(1823),  p.  42. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        163 


164    FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

Lewis  H.  Morgan  secured  a  large  amount  of  information  upon  which 
his  valuable  work  on  the  Beaver*  was  based.  A  few  years  ago  they 
were  nearly  exterminated  in  that  locality,  but  owing  to  wise  protection 
their  numbers  are  again  increasing.  At  the  present  time  there  are  a 
considerable  number  of  beaver  inhabiting  the  rivers  and  lakes  near 
Champion,  Michigan.  Several  of  their  dams  and  houses  may  be  seen 
near  White  Deer  Lake,  and  the  presence  of  the  animals  is  shown  by 
the  numerous  fresh  "cuttings"  along  the  banks. 

An  adult  male  Beaver  of  average  size  will  weigh  from  30  to  45 
pounds,  but  it  is  claimed  they  often  grow  considerably  larger.  Audubon 
and  Bachman  mention  one  weighing  61  pounds,  and  an  animal  weigh- 
ing 68  pounds  is  recorded  by  Mr.  Ernest  Thompson  Seton.f 

Quiet  streams  and  ponds  bordered  by  poplars  or  quaking  aspens 
and  willows  are  the  favorite  haunts  of  these  animals;  often  a  shallow 
brook  with  sufficiently  high  banks  is  chosen  for  the  site  of  their  home. 
The  locality  being  selected,  a  pair  of  Beaver  at  once  begin  work  to  build 
a  dam  and  thereby  make  a  pond  of  sufficient  depth  and  suitable  for  the 
use  of  themselves  and  their  family;  meadows  are  often  flooded  in  this 
manner  until  a  pond  is  made  having  a  depth  of  at  least  3  or  4  feet.  The 
dam  is  built  of  branches  laid  one  on  top  of  the  other,  the  several  ends 
pointing  up  stream  and  fastened  down  with  mud  and  rocks ;  occasionally 
a  fallen  tree  or  drifting  log  is  made  use  of,  but  large  logs  are  the  ex- 
ception. The  height  of  the  dam  varies,  commonly  ranging  from  4  to 
6  feet,  but  Morgan  describes  one  "  about  35  feet  long,  12  feet  in  vertical 
height,  and  with  a  slope  of  interlaced  poles  on  its  lower  face  upwards 
of  20  feet  in  length"  (/.  c.,  p.  119).  The  length  of  the  dam  depends,  of 
course,  on  the  location  and  the  size  of  the  stream,  or  pond;  there  are 
numerous  records  of  dams  500  feet  or  more  in  length  and  there  is  one 
in  Beaver  Lake,  Yellowstone  Park,  which  is  estimated  by  General  S.  B. 
Young  to  be  about  700  feet.J 

In  building  the  dams  and  houses  the  Beaver  uses  his  forepaws,  like 
hands,  to  carry  the  mud  and  stones  used  in  their  construction.  The 
branches  are  dragged  to  where  they  are  needed,  one  end  being  held  in 
the  teeth.  Occasionally  several  dams  are  made  one  below  the  other, 
thus  reducing  the  pressure  on  the  one  highest  up  stream.  When  the 
dam  is  finished  to  their  satisfaction,  they  decide  on  a  location  for  their 
home.  In  some  instances,  where  the  banks  are  suitable,  they  dig 
burrows,  but  in  others  they  construct  dome-shaped  houses  in  the 
ponds.  In  all  cases  the  entrance  to  their  houses  is  under  water  with 

*  The  American  Beaver  and  his  Works,  Philadelphia,  1868. 

t  Life  Histories  of  Northern  Animals,  1909,  p.  448. 

J  Seton,  E.  T.     Life  Histories  of  Northern  Animals,  I,  1909,  p.  457. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        165 

a  passage  leading  to  a  good-sized  chamber,  the  floor  of  which  is  several 
inches  above  the  level  of  the  water.  When  houses  are  built,  they  are 
constructed  of  sticks,  brush  and  mud;  the  top  is  rounded  and  rises 
three  or  four  feet  above  the  water.  Ordinary  houses  vary  in  size  from 
6  to  14  feet  in  diameter,  although  some  are  considerably  larger.  The 
living  chamber  of  an  ordinary  house  is  often  (but  not  always)  nearly 
circular  and  has  a  diameter  of  from  4  to  5  feet  and  a  height  of  from 
15  to  24  inches;  the  size  varies  considerably  and  there  are  many  smaller 
and  others  decidedly  larger.  These  chambers  are  almost  invariably 
supplied  with  two  entrances.  When  the  house  is  in  a  bank,  the  length 
of  the  passageway  to  the  living  rooms  varies,  but  is  commonly  from  10 
to  20  feet. 

In  swimming  the  Beaver  propels  itself  by  its  broadly  webbed  hind 
feet  and  makes  little  or  no  use  of  the  forefeet,  which  are  usually  held 
loosely  against  the  body.  They  have  a  habit  of  striking  the  water 
with  their  tails  before  diving,  making  a  loud  splash,  the  sound  of  which 
on  a  calm  evening  can  be  heard  a  long  distance.  While  as  a  rule  they 
strike  the  water  before  diving,  they  do  not  always  do  so,  as  I  have,  on 
at  least  two  occasions,  seen  them  dive  silently  after  the  manner  of  a 
Muskrat.  Their  work  is  done  chiefly  in  the  evening  and  at  night, 
although  in  unsettled  districts  they  may  not  uncommonly  be  seen 
swimming  about  in  the  daytime.  The  young  are  usually  born  in  May 
and  the  average  number  in  a  litter  is  4  or  5,  sometimes  6  and,  according 
to  Morgan,  very  rarely  7  or  8  (/.  c.,  p.  221).  The  extraordinary  number 
of  10  young  Beavers  in  a  litter  is  recorded  by  Brown.* 

The  food  of  the  Beaver  consists  principally  of  the  bark  and  tender 
twigs  of  the  poplar  or  aspen  and  the  willow.  It  also  eats  the  bark  of 
other  trees  and  bushes  and  sometimes  roots  and  leaves.  To  procure 
its  store  of  winter  food  it  cuts  down  trees  and  transports  the  logs  and 
branches  to  the  vicinity  of  its  house  or  burrow,  where  they  are  stored 
under  water  to  be  used  when  needed.  In  many  cases  a  hole  in  the  ice 
is  kept  open  to  enable  the  animals  to  come  out  when  they  please,  and 
through  which  an  extra  supply  of  food  can  be  taken  to  the  house  after 
the  river  or  pond  is  frozen  over.  Numbers  of  small  trees  are  cut  down, 
but  larger  ones  having  a  diameter  of  12  to  15  inches  are  by  no  means 
unusual.  Trees  two  feet  in  diameter  are  occasionally  felled  by  these 
animals  and  Lewis  and  Clark  record  one  measuring  nearly  three  feet.f 
In  places  where  the  trees  are  separated  from  the  water  by  a  marsh, 
the  Beavers  dig  canals  to  enable  them  to  float  the  trees  and  larger 
branches,  after  they  are  cut  up  into  sections,  to  the  pond.  The  larger 

*  Brown,  R.    Proc.  Linn.  Soc.  Lond.,  Zoology,  1868  (1869),  p.  367. 
t  Lewis  and  Clark,  Ex.  Longman's  ed.,  p.  146. 


166    FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 


Hole  in  the  ice  cut  and  kept  open  by  Beavers  near  Champion,  Michigan. 
(From  photograph  by  W.  H.  Osgood.) 


A  Beaver  House  near  Champion,  Michigan. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        167 


Trees  cut  down  by  Beavers  near  Champion.  Michigan. 


i68     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 

pieces  are  pushed  and  rolled  into  these  canals  often  by  several  Beavers 
working  together  and  using  their  shoulders  and  bodies  as  well  as  their 
teeth  and  paws  in  their  efforts.  Some  of  the  canals  are  of  extraordinary 
length.  Morgan  found  several  more  than  500  feet  long,  one  of  which 
was  situated  on  the  Carp  River,  Michigan,*  and  which  he  describes 
as  follows: 

"There  is  an  extensive  canal  on  Carp  River  a  short  distance  below 
the  bend  ...  It  runs  through  low,  swampy  ground,  which  is 
covered  for  one-quarter  of  its  length  with  a  thicket  of  alder  so  dense  that 
it  was  difficult  to  follow  the  channel  for  the  purpose  of  measurement. 
The  river,  which  at  this  point  is  a  hundred  feet  wide,  more  or  less,  is 
bordered  with  alder  and  cranberry  bushes,  and  with  a  forest  of  tama- 
racks. Back  of  these,  some  six  hundred  feet,  is  the  first  rising  ground 
covered  with  deciduous  trees,  to  reach  which  the  canal  was  constructed. 
At  the  distance  of  one  hundred  and  eleven  feet  from  its  commencement 
in  the  river  there  was  a  rise  in  the  surface  level  of  about  a  foot,  which 
made  necessary  either  a  dam  or  an  additional  foot  of  excavation  to 
furnish  sufficient  depth  of  water.  A  dam  twenty-five  feet  long  across 
the  canal  and  the  grounds  adjacent,  was  the  expedient  adopted.  The 
second  level  of  the  canal,  thus  raised  a  foot  above  the  first,  continued 
one  hundred  and  seventy-eight  feet,  where  a  second  rise  occurred  of 
about  the  same  amount,  and  where  a  second  dam  was  constructed  thirty 
feet  long.  As  the  ground  on  both  sides  of  the  canal  was  swampy,  with 
water  in  pools  here  and  there,  it  was  only  necessary  to  excavate  a  channel 
of  requisite  depth  to  obtain  a  sufficient  supply  of  water  by  filtration 
from  the  adjoining  lands.  Up  to  the  first  dam  the  canal  was  filled 
from  the  river,  and  consequently  varied  in  depth  with  the  rise  and  fall 
of  the  stream;  but  above  this,  where  it  depended  upon  the  dam  and 
the  source  of  supply  before  named,  it  was  uniformly  about  18  inches 
deep.  From  the  second  dam  the  canal  continued  at  a  foot  higher 
level  for  the  distance  of  two  hundred  and  ninety  feet,  where  it  ter- 
minated at  the  base  of  the  hard  wood  lands  at  a  distance  of  five  hundred 
and  seventy-nine  feet  from  the  river.  Its  average  width  was  about 
four  feet,  and  it  had  an  unobstructed  channel  of  about  eighteen  inches 
deep  from  one  end  to  the  other,  with  the  exception  of  the  dams.  The 
runways  of  the  beavers  over  these  dams  were  very  conspicuous.  They 
were  shown,  as  in  the  other  cases,  by  a  depression  in  the  center  formed 
by  travelling  over  them  in  going  up  and  down  the  canal.  At  the 
mouth  of  the  canal  the  river  was  not  deep  enough  for  a  beaver  to  swim 
below  its  surface  out  into  the  stream.  To  obviate  the  difficulty,  a 

*  Southwest  of  Teal  Lake,  about  15  miles  west  of  Marquette  and  less  than  50 
miles  from  the  Wisconsin  line. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        169 

channel  twenty-five  feet  long  and  a  foot  or  more  wide  was  excavated 
in  the  bed  of  the  river  far  enough  out  to  carry  them  into  deep  water. 
The  materials  were  thrown  up  in  an  embankment  on  the  side  below  the 
excavation,  apparently  lest  the  currents  of  the  stream  should  carry 
them  back  into  the  channel.  The  excavation  and  the  embankment, 
which  were  plainly  to  be  seen  side  by  side,  the  latter  in  places  coming 
to  the  surface  of  the  water,  presented  another  striking  illustration  of 


Map  illustrating  approximate  former  distribution  of  Beaver  in  eastern  United  States. 

Castor  canadensis  KUHL.    Type  locality  —  Hudson  Bay.    Description  as  previously 

given. 
Castor  c.  carolinensis  RHOADS.     (Trans.  Amer.  Philos.  Soc.,  N.  Ser.,  XIX,  1898,  p. 

420.)     Type  locality  —  Dan  River  near  Danbury,  Stokes  Co.,  North  Carolina. 

Very  similar  to  canadensis,  but  somewhat  larger  and  the  tail  broader. 
Castor  c.  texensis  BAILEY.    (N.  Amer.  Fauna,  No.  25,  1905,  p.  122.)     Type  locality  — 

Cummings  Creek,  Colorado  County,  Texas.     General  coloration  paler  and  tail 

narrower. 


170     FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 

the  industry  as  well  as  the  intelligence  of  the  beaver"  (/.  c.,   pp. 
199-200) 

In  felling  the  larger  trees  the  Beaver  first  cut  two  parallel  grooves, 
or  furrows,  at  right  angles  with  the  grain  and  about  two  or  three  inches 
apart  and  the  wood  between  these  furrows  is  split  out  with  their  sharp 
chisel-like  teeth;  the  operation  is  then  repeated  to  a  greater  depth 
and  continued  until  the  tree  falls.  The  cut  portion  of  the  tree  resembles 
the  middle  of  an  hour-glass  and  both  ends  of  the  severed  part  are 
conical. 

Much  has  been  written  of  the  wonderful  sagacity  shown  by  Beaver 
in  their  work,  and  while  a  great  deal  which  is  claimed  for  them  is  true, 
in  some  cases  at  least  over-zealous  and  non-scientific  observers  have 
been  prone  to  draw  somewhat  hasty  conclusions.  It  has  been  claimed, 
for  example,  that  a  Beaver  cuts  down  a  tree  in  a  way  that  will  cause  it 
to  fall  in  any  desired  direction.  This  may  or  may  not  be  true,  but  the 
facts  do  not  seem  to  warrant  such  a  statement.  In  early  days  I  have 
seen  a  number  of  Beaver  dams  and  have  examined  dozens  of  trees  which 
had  been  cut  down  by  the  animals;  some  had  fallen  in  a  manner  which 
would  encourage  such  a  belief,  but  on  the  other  hand  fully  as  many 
had  not. 

The  well-known  castorum  or  castor  of  commerce  is  a  secretion  of 
the  castorum  glands  of  the  Beaver,  which  has  a  peculiar  penetrating 
odor  and  which  is  highly  attractive  to  the  Beavers  themselves,  so  much 
so  that  it  is  used  as  a  bait  by  trappers.  The  usual  method  of  using  it  is 
to  place  a  little  of  the  fluid  on  the  end  of  a  twig  which  extends  over  the 
trap,  the  latter  being  placed  under  the  water.  In  trying  to  smell  the 
stick  the  Beaver  steps  on  the  trap  and  is  caught. 

While  it  is  probable  that  medical  men  of  to-day  would  prefer  to  avail 
themselves  of  other  remedies,  it  is  interesting  to  learn  that  physicians 
of  three  hundred  years  ago  considered  the  skin  of  the  European  Beaver, 
which  is  a  close  relative  of  ours,  to  possess  decided  therapeutic  value. 
In  writing  of  the  European  species  in  the  early  part  of  the  seventeeth 
century,  Edward  Topsell*  says: 

"The  medicinall  vertues  of  this  beast  are  in  the  skin.  .  .  A 
garment  made  of  the  skinnes  is  good  for  a  paralitick  person,  and  the 
skinnes  burned  with  drie  Oynions  and  liquid  pitch,  stayeth  the  bleeding 
of  the  nose,  and  being  put  into  the  soles  of  shoes  easeth  the  gowt." 

Specimens  examined  from  Wisconsin  and  adjoining  states : 
Michigan  —  Iron  County,  5. 
Wisconsin —  (0.  C.)  Sawyer  County  (skull),  i. 

*  Historie  of  Foure  Footed  Beastes,  London,  1607,  p.  17. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        171 


Family  MURID^.      Rats  and  Mice. 

The  Muridce  is  the  largest  known  family  of  mammals.  Its  members 
are  practically  cosmopolitan  and  number  at  least  450  known  species, 
representing  nearly  100  genera.  They  are  all  animals  of  small  size, 
the  largest  being  the  Muskrat  (Fiber).  They  have  no  premolars  and 
never  more  than  three  cheek  teeth  (molars),  the  differences  in  the  latter 
being  often  genetically  diagnostic.  The  antorbital  foramen  is  large, 
the  edges  forming  a  nearly  perpendicular  slit  in  front  of  the  zygoma 
in  most  species;  *  molars  tuberculate  or  with  enamel  folds  and  with  or 
without  roots;  the  tibia  and  fibula  are  anchylosed  below,  and  post- 
orbital  processes  are  wanting.  Four  subfamilies  are  represented  in 
North  America  including  the  introduced  subfamily  Murince  containing 
Old  World  Rats  and  Mice. 

KEY  TO  THE  GENERA 
WHICH   OCCUR  WITHIN   OUR  LIMITS. 

GROUP  1.  Grinding  teeth  (molars)  of  upper  jaw  with  tubercles  or  rounded  points 
on  crowns  extending  in  three  longitudinal  rows;  tail  nearly 
naked. 

Total  length  (including  tail)  less  than  10  inches. 
Mus  Genus  MUS,  p.  176. 

Crowns  of  Molars.       Total  length  (including  tail)  more  than  10  inches. 

GenusEPIMYSlP.i8o. 
GROUP  2.  Grinding  teeth  (molars)  of  upper  jaw  with  tubercles  or  rounded  points 

on  crowns  extending  in  two  longitudinal  rows. 
SECTION  1.  Skull  showing  a  ridge  over  the  eye  socket. 

Total  length  over  8.75  inches;    hind  feet  decidedly  large; 

Ptromyscus.  incisors  not  grooved.  Genus  ORYZOMYS,  p.  202. 

Crowns  of  Molars. 
(Enlarged.) 

SECTION  2.  Skull  not  showing  distinct  ridge  over  eye  socket. 

Total  length  less  than  8.75  inches;  hind  feet  not  decidedly  large;  incisors 

not  grooved.  Genus  PEROMYSCUS,  p.i83. 

Size  small,  total  length  less  than  5.50  inches;  front  of  upper  incisors  with 

longitudinal  groove.  Genus  REITHRODONTOMYS,  p.  201. 

GROUP  3.  Crowns  of  grinding  teeth   (molars)  with  loops  or  irregular  triangles 

clearly  shown  in  upper  jaw. 
SECTION  1.  Total  length  more  than  12  inches. 

Tail  covered  with  hair;  ears  large;  belly  whitish. 

Neotoma  Genus  NEOTOMA,  p.  204. 

Crowns  of  Molars.  Tail  laterally  compressed  and  naked  for  greater  part  of 

its  length.  Genus  FIBER,  p.  225. 

*See  fig.  5,  p.  96. 


172     FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 


Skulls  of  Murida.    (About  natural  size.) 

i,  Mus  musculus;  2,  Epimys  norvegicus;  3,  Peromyscus  leucopus;  4,  Oryzomys  palustris:  5,  Neo~ 
tomaf.  illinoiensis;  6,  Evotomys  gapperi;  7,  Microtus  pennsylvanicus;  8,  Fiber  zibethicus;  9,  Synapto- 
mys  cooperi. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        173 

SECTION  2.  Total  length  less  than  12  inches. 

PART  1.  Front  of  upper  incisors  (front  teeth)  not  grooved. 

Grinding  teeth  without  pronged  roots  in  adults;  back  and  sides  of  body 
nearly  uniform  in  color.  Genus  MICROTUS,  p.  213. 

Grinding  teeth  with  pronged  roots  in  adults;  back  with  chestnut  dorsal 
stripe  (middle  of  back)  in  decided  contrast  with  gray-brown  of 
sides.  Genus  EVOTOMYS,  p.  208. 

PART  2.  Front  of  upper  incisors  (front  teeth)  with  distinct  groove 
near  outer  edge.  Genus  SYNAPTOMYS,  p.233. 


KEY  TO   THE   SPECIES. 

This  key  is  largely  based  on  external  characters  for  use  in  the  field  and  is  intended 
to  apply  to  adult  specimens  only. 

GROUP  1.  Total  length  (including  tail)  more  than  10  inches. 

SECTION  1.  Total  length  more  than.  1 8  inches.  General  color  brown ;  fur  thick 
and  fluffy;  tail  hairless  for  the  greater  part  of  its  length  and  laterally 
compressed.  MUSKRAT.  Fiber  zibethicus,  p.  225. 

SECTION  2.  Total  length  less  than  18,  but  more  than  10  inches. 
PART  1.   Tail  with  little  or  no  hair;  crowns  of  molars  with  tubercles. 

Length  from  nose  to  root  of  tail  less  than  length  of  tail;  general  color 
blackish;  under  parts  not  white  or  yellowish  white.  Claimed  to 
have  occurred  within  our  limits  but  no  definite  records. 

BLACK  RAT.     Epimys  ratlus,  p.  181. 

Length  from  nose  to  root  of  tail  less  than  length  of  tail;  upper  parts 
brownish;  under  parts  yellowish  white  or  whitish.     This  species 
has  not  been  observed  within  our  limits  but  may 
occur.  ROOF  RAT.    Epimys  alexandrinus,  p.  181. 

Length  from  nose  to  root  of  tail  greater  than  length  of  tail 
(never  less) ;  upper  parts  brownish;  under  parts  brown- 

Epimys.  ish  gray.    Common  in  houses  and  barns. 

Crowns  of  Upper  Molars.  .  T  _,  _  „  TT  „ 

(Enlarged.)  NORWAY  RAT.      BROWN  RAT  OR  HOUSE  RAT. 

Epimys  norvegicus,  p.  180. 

PART  2.  Tail  covered  with  hair,  crowns  of  molars  with  irregular  triangles  or 
loops.  Upper  parts  brownish;  under  parts  whitish;  feet 
white;  ears  large;  occurs  only  in  southern  Illinois.  About 
the  size  of  large  House  Rat,  but  readily  distinguished  from  it 

Crowns  cf  Upper  Molars.     by  its  hair-covered  tail.  large  ears.  and  white  feet- 

(Enlarged.)  ILLINOIS  WOOD  RAT.     Neotoma  floridana  illinoensis,  p. 204. 

GROUP  2.  Total  length  less  than  10  inches;  tail  more  than  2  inches  long. 

A.  Species  which  occur  in  southern  Illinois. 
SECTION  1.  Tail  more  than  2  inches,  but  less  than  3.75  inches  long. 

PART  1.  Under  parts  white  or  grayish  white;  upper  parts  brown,  but  not 

golden  brown ;  middle  of  back  darker  brown  that  the  sides. 
Total  length  more  than  7  in.  (180  mm.);  tail  vertebra?  about  3.12  in.  (80 
mm.)  or  more.  WESTERN  COTTON  MOUSE. 

Peromyscus  gossypinus  megacephalus,  p.  196. 


174     FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 

Total  length  6.62  to  7  in.  (169  to  179  mm.);  tail  vertebrae  2.75  to  3  in. 
(70  to  77  mm.).  WHITE-FOOTED  MOUSE. 

Peromyscus  leucopus,  p.  184. 

Total  length  5.50  to  6.50  in.  (140  to  165  mm.);  tail  vertebras  less  than 
2.75  in.  (70  mm.).  PRAIRIE  WHITE-FOOTED  MOUSE. 

Peromyscus  maniculatus  bairdi,  p.  190. 

Total  length  about  5  in.  (128  mm.);  tail  vertebras  from  2  to  2.50  in.  (50 
to  65  mm.);  back  brown;  sides  grayish  buff;  a  distinct  longitudinal 
groove  on  front  of  upper  incisors  near  outer  edge.  Not  as  yet  recorded 
from  within  our  limits  but  may  occur.  DYCHE'S  HARVEST  MOUSE. 

Reithrodontomys  dychei,  p.  201. 

PART  2.  Under  parts  white  or  grayish  white;  upper  parts  including  head  rich, 
golden  brown.  SOUTHERN  GOLDEN  MOUSE. 

Peromyscus  nuttalli  aureolus,  p.  198. 

PART  3.  Under  parts  mouse  brown;  upper  parts  darker  brown. 

HOUSE  MOUSE. 
Mus  musculus,  p.  176. 
SECTION  2.  Tail  4  to  5  inches  long. 

Hair  on  tail  very  scanty;  feet  decidedly  larger  and  broader  than 
Peromyscus;  upper  parts  brown;  under  parts  grayish.  The  line  of  de- 
marcation between  color  of  sides  and  belly  not  decidedly  abrupt  as  in 
Peromyscus.  RICE  FIELD  MOUSE.  RICE  RAT. 

Oryzomys  palustris,  p.  202. 

B.  Species  which  occur  in  northern  Illinois  or  Wisconsin. 

SECTION  1.  Tail  more  than  2,  but  less  than  3.75  inches  long. 

PART  1.  Under  parts  white  or  grayish  white;  upper  parts  brown;  middle  of 

back  darker  brown  than  the  sides. 

Tail  less  than  2.75  in.  (70  mm.  long,  usually  from  55  to  68  mm.);  total 
length  5.50  to  6.25  in.  (140  to  160  mm.).  Occurs  in  Illinois  and  southern 
Wisconsin. 

PRAIRIE  WHITE-FOOTED  MOUSE. 
Peromyscus  maniculatus  bairdi,  p.  190. 

Tail  more  than  2.75  in.  (70  mm.)  long;  total  length  6.38  to  7.37  in.  (162  to 
188  mm.);  tail  usually  2.87  to  3.25  in.  long  (72  to  83  mm.);  no  trace  of 
whitish  hairs  at  anterior  base  of  ears.*  Large  specimens  are  often 
quite  similar  to  small  examples  of  P.  m.  gracilis  but  gracilis  does  not 
occur  in  southern  Wisconsin  or  Illinois. 

NORTHERN  WHITE-FOOTED  MOUSE. 
Peromyscus  leucopus  noveboracensis ,  p.  185. 

*  Mr.  Wilfred  H.  Osgood  gives  the  following  characters  by  which  P.  I,  nove- 
boracensis and  P.  m.  gracilis  may  be  distinguished  (Revision  of  the  Mice  of  the 
American  Genus  Peromyscus,  N.  Amer.  Fauna,  No.  28,  1909,  pp.  35  and  42.): 

"P.  m.  gracilis.    Tail  longer,  more  distinctly  pencillate  and  more  sharply  bicolor; 

pelage  slightly  softer,  with  or  without  white  hairs  at  the  anterior  base  of  the  ear. 
P.  I.  noveboracensis.  Tail  shorter  and  less  sharply  bicolor,  slightly  or  scarcely 

pencillate;  never  with  white  spot  at  anterior  base  of  the  ear." 


FEB.,  1912.    MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        175 

Tail  more  than  2.75  in.  (70  mm.)  long;  total  length  from  6.87  to  7.50  in. 
(175  to  190  mm.);  tail  usually  3.25  to  4  in.  (80  to  100  mm.);  some 
specimens  show  whitish  hairs  at  the  anterior  base  of  the  ears.  Usually 
distinguished  by  size  and  length  of  tail  from  P.  noveboracensis. 

CANADIAN  WHITE-FOOTED  MOUSE. 
Peromyscus  maniculatus  gracilis,  p.  193. 

PART  2.  Under  parts  mouse  brown;  upper  parts  darker  brown. 

HOUSE  MOUSE. 
Mus  musculus,  p.  176. 

SECTION  2.  Tail  more  than  4  inches  long. 

Tawny  brown  on  sides  of  body;  back  darker  brown;  sides  of  belly  tinged 
with  pale  brownish  yellow;  front  of  upper  incisors  with  distinct  lon- 
gitudinal groove.  This  species  belongs  to  family  Zapodidae  and  does 
not  properly  belong  here,  but  might  be  looked  for  in  this  family  by  those 
not  familiar  with  mammals.  JUMPING  MOUSE. 

Zapus  hudsonius,  p.  247. 

GROUP  3.  Total  length  less  than  10  inches;  tail  less  than  2  inches  long. 

SECTION  1.  Total  length  more  than  5.50  inches;  tail  more  than  1.25  inches 

long. 

Tail  usually  less  than  1.60  inches  long;  dark  brown  hairs  of  upper  parts 
tipped  with  light  grayish  brown,  giving  a  grizzly  effect  of  mixed  light 
and  dark  brown  hairs;  under  parts  grayish  brown;  plantar  tubercles 
5;  mammae  6.  .  PRAIRIE  MEADOW  MOUSE. 

Microtus  ochrogaster,  p.  218. 

Tail  usually  more  than  1.60  inches  long;  fur  on  upper  parts  softer  and  darker 
brown  and  lacking  the  grizzly  effect  of  M.  ochrogaster;  under  parts 
distinctly  grayish  or  plumbeous  gray,  not  brownish  gray  or  gray  brown, 
as  in  ochrogaster;  plantar  tubercles  6;  mammae  8.  MEADOW  MOUSE. 

Microtus  pennsylvanicus,  p.2i4. 

SECTION  2.  Total  length  less  than  5.50  inches. 

PART  1.  Front  of  upper  incisors   (front  teeth)   with  distinct  groove  near 

W  v/v    °uter  edge' 

\  V/X      Total  length  usually  more  than  4.75  inches;  tail  less  than  i  inch  long. 
^jUj  Occurs  in  Illinois  and  perhaps  southern  Wisconsin. 

Front  view  of  COOPER'S  LEMMING  MOUSE.* 

Upper  Incisors. 
(Enlarged.)  Synaptomys  cooperi, 

AND  Goss's  LEMMING  MOUSE. 
Synaptomys  cooperi  gossi,  p.  233. 

Total  length  less  than  4.75  inches;  tail  less  than  I  inch  long;  skull  smaller 
and  incisors  narrower  and  smaller  than  S.  cooperi.  Occurs  so  far  as 
known  within  our  limits  only  in  northern  Wisconsin. 

BANGS'S  LEMMING  MOUSE. 
Synaptomys  cooperi  fatuus,  p.  237. 

*I  have  seen  no  specimens  of  typical  cooperi  from  Illinois,  but  intermediates 
between  cooperi  and  gossi  occur  in  the  northeastern  part  of  the  state.  S.  c.  gossi 
occurs  in  southern  Illinois. 


176     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

PART  2.  Front  of  upper  incisors  (front  teeth)  without  distinct  groove  near 

outer  edge. 

Upper  parts  nearly  uniform  brown  in  color;  tail  not  exceeding  I  inch  in 
length  and  usually  less.  GREATER  PINE  MOUSE. 

Microtus  pinetorum  scalopsoides,  p.  222. 

Upper  parts  with  wide  chestnut  dorsal  stripe  (down  middle  of  back)  in 
decided  contrast  to  gray  brown  of  sides;  tail  more  than  I  inch  long. 

RED-BACKED  MOUSE. 
Evotomys  gapperi,  p.  208. 


Subfamily  MURING. 

An  Old  World  subfamily  of  which  several  species  have  been  in- 
troduced into  America.  The  characters  as  given  for  the  following  genera 
will  answer  our  purpose  here. 


Genus  MUS  Linn. 

Mus  Linnaeus,  Syst.  Nat.,  X  ed.,  I,  1758,  p.  59.  Type  Mus  musculus 
Linn. 

Front  teeth  (incisors)  two  in  each  jaw;  no  premolars;  three  molars 
or  grinding  teeth  in  upper  jaw  having  tubercles  on  crowns  arranged  in 
three  longitudinal  rows ;  incisors  narrow  and  without  groove ; 
crown  of  anterior  molar  larger  than  both  the  others  combined ; 
third  molar  very  small ;  edges  of  anteorbital  foramen  forming 

Crowns  of 

Upper  Molars.  a  nearly  perpendicular  slit  in  front  of  zygoma;  tail  long  and 
usually  nearly  naked  and  scaly;  hind  feet  with  five  developed  toes;  fore 
feet  with  four  developed  toes  and  a  rudimentary  pollex  with  short  nail. 
Originally  this  genus  included  the  Old  World  Rats  and  Mice,  which  have 
been  introduced  in  the  United  States,  but  is  now  restricted  to  a  single 
species,  the  House  Mouse,  the  Rats  having  been  separated  and  placed 
in  the  genus  Epimys. 

Dental  formula:  I.  -  — ,  C.  — -,  Pm.  — -,  M.  ^— ^=  16. 
i-i        o-o  o-o         3-3 

Mus  musculus  LINN. 

HOUSE  MOUSE. 
[Mus]  musculus  LINN^US,  Syst.  Nat.,  X  ed.,  I,  1758,  p.  62. 

Type  locality  • —  Sweden. 

Distribution  —  Old  World  species,  now  generally  distributed  through- 
out the  settled  portions  of  the  United  States,  about  buildings  and 
in  cultivated  fields  and  occasionally  in  unsettled  districts. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        177 

Special  characters  —  Under  parts  grayish  brown,  paler  than  the  back 
but  with  no  abrupt  line  of  demarcation;  length,  6  to  7  inches.  The 
grayish  brown  under  parts  (not  white  or  whitish),  in  connection 
with  its  size  and  length  of  tail,  will  distinguish  it  from  others  of  our 
Mice. 

Description  —  General  color  brown,  the  dark  brown  shading  gradually 
to  lighter  brown  on  the  sides  of  the  body  and  grayish  brown  on  the 
belly;  tail  very  scantily  haired;  molars  or  grinding  teeth  having  tu- 
bercles on  crowns  forming  three  longitudinal  rows. 
Measurements  —  Total  length,  6.75    in.   (171.4  mm.);   tail  vertebrae, 
3.15  in.  (80  mm.);  hind  foot,  .75  in.  (19  mm.). 
The  House  Mouse  is  an  introduced  species  which  has  become 
distributed  practically  throughout  North  America  in  districts  inhabited 
by  man  and  occasionally  away  from  settled  localities.     On  account 
of  its  small  size  it  does  not  do  so  much  damage  as  its  larger  relative,  the 
Rat,  but  its  presence  is  considered  equally  undesirable,  and  its  ability 
to  get  through  very  small  holes  often  enables  it  to  gain  access  to  the 
drawer  of  a  desk,  where  it  immediately  begins  operations  by  reducing 
letters  and  papers  contained  therein  to  a  mass  of  shreds  to  be  used  as  a 
soft  bed  for  a  litter  of  young  Mice.     When  present  in  any  numbers  the 
amount  of  food  they  consume  is  considerable,  and  their  depredations 
in  pantries  and  storerooms  is  too  well  known  to  require  comment. 

They  are  unfortunately  very  prolific,  several  litters  being  born  in  a 
season.  From  4  to  9  young  are  born  in  a  litter,  the  usual  number  being 
5  or  6.  The  young  ones  reach  the  age  of  maturity  when  less  than  three 
months  old. 

The  ordinary  vocal  sounds  produced  by  a  House  Mouse  may  be 
described  as  a  shrill  squeak,  but  several  writers  have  given  it  credit 
for  what  they  describe  as  a  "song."  Mr.  Seton  says,*  "Most  persons 
are  surprised  to  hear  of  singing  Mice.  The  first  I  met  was  in  my  New 
York  residence.  Out  of  the  black  darkness  of  a  cupboard  at  midnight 
came  a  prolonged  squeaking,  thrilling  and  churring,  suggestive  of  a 
canary's  song  but  of  thinner  and  weaker  quality.  There  could  be  no 
question  that  it  was  a  'singing  mouse.'  Many  cases  are  on  record." 

All  efforts  to  exterminate  the  House  Mouse  in  the  United  States  have 
failed  and,  if  anything,  their  numbers  appear  to  be  increasing.  In 
this  connection  it  is  interesting  to  note  that  three  hundred  years  ago 
the  householder  in  England  was  annoyed  by  these  little  pests  fully  as 
much  as  are  those  of  the  present  day;  at  least  in  1607  Edward  Topsell 
devoted  several  pages  to  describing  various  methods  whereby  they  could 
be  trapped  or  killed.  He  saysrf 

*  Life  Histories  of  Northern  Animals,  I,  1909,  p.  482. 

t  Historic  of  Foure  Footed  Beastes,  London,  1607,  pp.  509-510. 


178    FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 


FEB.,  1912.    MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        179 

"For  these  causes  have  men  in  vented  many  devises,  snars,  and  gins, 
the  generall  wherof  is  called  by  the  Latines  Muscipula  and  by  the  Gre- 
tians  Muspala  and  Miagra,  the  divers  and  severall  formes  whereof  I  will 
not  disdaine  to  set  down.  For  the  wise  reader  must  consider  that  it  is 
as  necessary  or  rather  more  necessary  for  most  men  to  know  how  to 
take  mice,  than  how  to  take  Elephants. 

"And  although  every  woman,  and  silly  Rat-ketcher  can  give  instruc- 
tions enough  therein,  yet  their  knowledge  cannot  excuse  my  negligence 
if  I  should  omit  the  inventions  and  devices  of  the  auncient,  whereby 
they  delivered  themselves  from  the  annoiances  of  these  beasts.  And 
therefore  first  of  al  to  declare  the  manner  of  ketching  them  . 

"And  also  it  is  reported  of  those  which  have  tryed  the  same,  that  if 
Mice  fall  into  a  vessell  without  water,  and  remaine  there  a  long  time 
without  meate,  that  then  they  devoure  one  another,  but  if  they  remaine 
there  so  long  untill  one  among  them  all  be  left  alone,  that  is  to  say  the 
strongest  of  them  all,  and  that  he  be  suffered  to  go  out,  wheresoever 
hee  shall  finde  any  mice  hee  will  eate  them  up,  and  they  shall  have  much 
adoe  to  escape  him,  because  he  hath  been  so  long  accustomed  unto 
them.  I  was  told  also  of  a  certaine  frierid  of  mine,  that  a  man  of 
Senensis  did  set  a  purse  in  a  hollow  place,  and  made  it  to  open  and  shut 
by  some  device,  so  that  at  length  he  tooke  a  mouse,  which  mouse  hee  fed 
onely  with  the  flesh  of  Mice,  and  after  he  had  fed  it  so  a  long  time,  he 
let  it  go,  who  killed  all  the  Mice  that  he  did  meete,  and  was  not  satisfied 
with  them,  but  went  into. every  hole  that  he  could  find,  and  eat  them 
up  also.  Also  Mice  are  taken  in  vessels,  from  whence  they  cannot 
escape,  upon  the  which  vessell  let  there  be  put  a  small  staffe,  which  is 
so  cut  in  the  middle,  that  she  may  onely  hold  her  selfe  by  the  meate, 
and  when  you  have  so  doone,  put  the  kernell  of  a  Nut  upon  the  middle 
of  the  staffe,  to  the  which  the  Mouse  comming,  doth  fall  into  the  vessell 
with  the  staffe,  and  they  will  be  stifeled  if  their  be  any  Water:  but  if 
there  be  none  she  will  be  killed." 

After  devoting  several  more  pages  to  methods  of  destroying  Mice 
both  with  traps  and  poisons,  he  adds: 

"The  Scythians  were  woont  to  be  clad  with  the  skinnes  of  mice  and 
Wolves,  and  it  is  observed,  that  when  mice  cry  and  screeketh  above 
their  ordinary  custome,  it  pressageth  an  alteration  and  change  of  the 
Weather,  and  thus  much  shall  suffice  for  their  naturall  discourse." 

Specimens  examined  from  Illinois  and  Wisconsin: 
Illinois  —  Chicago,  6;  Olive  Branch,  Alexander  Co.,  2;  (O.)  Chicago, 

12  =  20. 
Wisconsin  —  Beaver  Dam,  Dodge  Co.,  i;  (O.)  Lake  Geneva,  8  =  9. 


180    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 


Genus  EPIMYS  Trouessart. 

Epimys  Trouessart,  Catal.  Mamm.  Viv.  et  Foss.,  Bull.  Soc.  d'Etudes, 
Sci.  d'Angers,  X,  1881,  p.  117.  Type,  by  subsequent  designation, 
Mus  rattus  Linn.  Miller,  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XXIII,  1910,  p.  58. 

Front  teeth  (incisors)  2  in  each  jaw;  no  premolars;  upper  molars 
or  grinding  teeth  having  tubercles  on  crowns  arranged  in  three  lon- 
gitudinal rows  as  in  Mus;  "molars  slightly  graduated  in  size  from  first 
to  third,  the  anterior  tqoth  not  tending  to  assume  the  main  function 
of  the  toothrow,  the  posterior  tooth  not  tending  to  disappear,  enamel 
folding  of  upper  molars  directly  referable  to  a  simple  Q-cusped  pattern 
and  its  reductions,  the  outher  margin  of  M1  and  M2  never  with  more 
than  three  cusps,  the  inner  margin  of  same  teeth  never  with  more 
than  2  cusps,  M1  usually  with  5  roots,  its  first  lamina  not  distorted 
by  the  backward  displacement  of  antero-internal  tubercle ;  upper  incisor 
moderately  compressed,  set  at  such  an  angle  that  its  outer  side  is 
worn  smoothly  away  by  action  of  lower  teeth."  (Miller.) 

Epimys  norvegicus  (ERXLEBEN). 
NORWAY  RAT.     BROWN  RAT.     HOUSE  RAT. 

[MMS]  norvegicus  ERXLEBEN,  Syst.  Regni  Ani'm.,  I,  1777,  p.  381.     JACKSON,  Bull. 

Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  VI,  1908,  p.  20  (Wisconsin).     HAHN,  Ann.  Kept.  Dept. 

Geol.  &  Nat.  Resources  Ind.,  1908  (1909),  p.  492  (Indiana). 
Mus  decumanus  KENNICOTT,  Trans.  111.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  I,  1853-54  (l&55),  P-  579 

(Illinois).  RHOADS,  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  1896  (1897),  p.  192  (Tennessee). 
Neotoma  floridana  WOOD,  Bull.  111.  State  Lab.  Nat.  Hist.,  VIII,  1910,  p.  550. 

Type  locality  —  Norway. 

Distribution  —  Nearly  cosmopolitan.     In  America  generally  distributed 

throughout  the  country  wherever  there  are  habitations  of  men. 
Description  —  Hair  coarse;  general  color  brown,  darkest  on  middle  of 

back;  under  parts  pale  grayish  brown;  tail  scaly  and  very  scantily 

haired;  tail  not  longer  than  head  and  body,  usually  less. 
Measurements  —  Total  length,  about  15.50  in.  (394  mm.) ;  tail  vertebras, 

about  7.12  in.  (180  mm.);  hind  foot,  1.75  in.  (45.  mm). 

This  species  was  introduced  in  North  America  some  time  during  the 
latter  part  of  the  eighteenth  century  and  in  spite  of  all  attempts  to 
exterminate  it,  it  has  thrived  and  increased  to  a  remarkable  degree.  Of 
its  habits  little  need  be  said.  They  are  destructive  to  property  and  in 
agricultural  districts  consume  a  large  amount  of  grain  and  food  of  every 
kind  wherever  they  can  find  it.  They  are  also  objectionable  from  an 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        181 

hygienic  point  of  view.  The  spread  of  the  Bubonic  Plague  has  been 
proved  to  be  due  to  them*  and  it  can  readily  be  understood  how  they 
could  easily  become  a  source  of  contagion  for  other  diseases  as  well. 
To  those  who  suffer  from  their  depredations  a  publication  of  the  U.  S. 
Department  of  Agriculture  entitled  "How  to  destroy  Rats,"  by  D.  E. 
Lantz,  (Farmers'  Bulletin,  No.  369,  1909)  is  recommended.  In  writing 
of  this  species  Dr.  C.  Hart  Merriam  says,f  "He  is  not  content  with 
deriving  his  sustenance  at  our  expense;  but  to  save  himself  the  trouble 
of  a  walk  between  meals,  takes  up  his  abode  in  or  under  our  dwellings 
and  outhouses.  In  unsettled  regions  he  often  makes  long  journeys 
from  house  to  house,  but  I  have  never  known  him  to  make  his  home  at 
any  great  distance  from  buildings. 

"Rats  are  good  swimmers,  and  in  their  migrations  from  place  to 
place  (which  are  usually  performed  at  night  and  thus  escape  notice) 
they  do  not  hesitate  to  swim  rivers  and  ponds  that  lie  in  the  way. 
Though  chiefly  nocturnal,  they  are  often  seen  in  the  daytime.  They 
are  exceedingly  prolific,  commonly  bringing  forth  from  seven  to  twelve 
young  at  a  birth,  and  having  several  litters  each  season.  Some  idea 
of  the  number  of  Rats  inhabiting  large  cities  may  be  had  from  the  fact 
that,  at  Paris,  in  a  fortnight's  time,  more  than  six  hundred  thousand  were 
killed  in  the  sewers.  The  skins  were  manufactured  into  kid  gloves." 

Specimens  examined  from  Illinois  and  Wisconsin: 
Illinois  —  Chicago,  2;  Fox  Lake,  8  (6  in  alcohol);  (I.  S.  L.)  Havana, 

i  =  n. ' 
Wisconsin- — Beaver  Dam,  Dodge  Co.,  2;  (O.)  Lake  Geneva,  4  =  6. 

The  following  introduced  species  may  occur  in  Illinois,  but  I  find 
no  satisfactory  record  of  either  having  actually  been  taken  in  the  state : 
Epimys  rattus  (Linn.).  (Syst.  Nat.,  X  ed.,  I,  1758,  p.  61.)  Type 
locality  —  Sweden.  A  nearly  cosmopolitan  species  introduced  in 
North  America  at  an  early  date.  It  was  formerly  common  in  many 
parts  of  the  United  States,  but  since  the  advent  of  the  Norway  or 
Brown  Rat,  has  become  rare  except  in  scattered  localities.  It  has 
been  recorded  from  Indiana,  Tennessee,  Kentucky  and  Iowa,  and  is 
claimed  to  have  occurred  in  Illinois  in  early  days.  It  has  also  been 
accredited  to  Wisconsin  by  Lapham  and  Strong ;  but  its  occurrence 
in  that  state  requires  further  confirmation. 

Epimys  alexandrinus  (Geoffrey).     (Descr.  Egypt,  II,   1818,  p.   733.) 
Type  locality — Egypt,  Africa.    This  species  has  a  much  more  south- 

*  The  Rat  is  very  susceptible  to  the  disease  and  a  large  number  of  the  Rat  fleas 
examined  in  infected  houses  contained  the  Bacillus  pestis  in  their  stomachs  and 
mouths. 

t  Mamm.  Adirondack  Reg.,  1886,  pp.  259-60. 


182     FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        183 

ern  distribution  than  the  Norway  Rat.  Since  its  introduction  into 
this  country  it  has  become  well  established  and  is  not  uncommon  in 
Louisiana  and  other  Southern  states.  So  far  as  known,  it  has  not 
been  taken  in  Illinois. 

The  three  species  may  be  distinguished  by  the  following  characters : 

Length  from  nose  to  root  of  tail  generally  greater  than  length  of  tail  (never  less); 
upper  parts  brown;  under  parts  brownish  gray.  A  very  common  species. 

BROWN  RAT  OR  NORWAY  RAT. 
Epimys  norvegicus. 

Length  from  nose  to  root  of  tail  less  than  length  of  tail;  general  color  blackish' 
under  parts  not  white  or  yellowish  white.  Doubtful  if  it  occurs  within  our 
limits.  BLACK  RAT. 

Epimys  rattus. 

Length  from  nose  to  root  of  tail  less  than  length  of  tail;  upper  parts  brownish; 
under  parts  yellowish  white  or  whitish.  Not  known  to  occur  in  Illinois  and 
Wisconsin.  ROOF  RAT. 

Epimys  alexandrinus. 


Subfamily  CRICETIN^. 


This  subfamily  is  of  almost  cosmopolitan  distribution.  The 
tubercles  on  molars  of  upper  jaw  are  arranged  in  two  longitudinal 
rows. 

Genus  PEROMYSCUS  Gloger. 

Peromyscus  Gloger,  Hand.  u.  Hilfsb.  Naturg.,  I,  1841,  p.  95.  Type 
Peromyscus  arboreus  Gloger  =  Mus  syhaticus  nose- 
boracensis  Fischer. 

Molars  or  grinding  teeth  with  two  rows  of  tubercles 

Crowns  of  Upper  ,     .,  ,        , 

Molars.  on  rounded  points  or  crowns;  zygoma  very  slender; 
tail  at  least  2  inches  long;  belly  white  or  whitish;  soles  of  hind  feet 
with  5  or  6  tubercles  or  wart-like  excrescences;  size  approaching  that 
of  the  House  Mouse. 

Dental  formula:  I.  — ,  C.  — ,  Pm.  — ,  M.^=i6. 
i-i         o-o  o-o         3-3 

FIELD   KEY  TO  OUR  SPECIES. 

GROUP  1.  Species  which  occur  in  about  the  northern  two-thirds  of  Illinois  and 

about  the  southern  half  of  Wisconsin. 

Tail  less  than  2.75  inches  long.  PRAIRIE  WHITE-FOOTED  MOUSE. 

Peromyscus  maniculatus  bairdi,  p.  190. 

Tail  more  than  2.75  inches  long.  NORTHERN  WHITE-FOOTED  MOUSE. 

Peromyscus  leucopus  noveboracensis,  p.  185. 


184     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

GROUP  2.  Species  which  occur  in  southern  Illinois. 

SECTION  1.  General  color  of  upper  parts  brown  but  not  golden  brown. 

Total  length  usually  more  than  7  inches;  tail  vertebrae  more  than  3  inches. 

WESTERN  COTTON  MOUSE. 
Peromyscus  gossypinus  megacephalus,  p.  196. 

Total  length  less  than  7  inches  (usually  about  6.75  in.) ;  tail  vertebras  not 
exceeding  3  inches  (usually  2.75  to  3  in.).  WHITE-FOOTED  MOUSE. 

Peromyscus  leucopus,  p.  184. 
Total  length  5.50  to  6.50  inches;  tail  vertebras  less  than  2.75  inches. 

PRAIRIE  WHITE-FOOTED  MOUSE. 
Peromyscus  maniculatus  bairdi,  p.  190. 

SECTION  2.  General  color  of  upper  parts  golden  brown.     Upper  parts,  includ- 
ing head,  rich  golden  brown.  SOUTHERN  GOLDEN  MOUSE. 

Peromyscus  nuttalli  aureolus,  p.  198. 

GROUP  3.  Species  which  occur  in  northern  Wisconsin. 
Tail  vertebras  usually  from  3.25  to  4  inches  long. 

CANADIAN  WHITE-FOOTED  MOUSE. 
Peromyscus  maniculatus  gracilis,  p.  193. 

Subgenus  PEROMYSCUS  Gloger. 

Plantar  tubercles  6;  ears  dark  or  dark  with  whitish  edges;  dentine 
spaces  of  molars  mostly  confluent. 

Peromyscus  leucopus  (RAFINESQUE). 

WHITE-FOOTED  MOUSE.     DEER  MOUSE.     WHITE-FOOTED  WOOD 

MOUSE. 

Musculus  leucopus  RAFINESQUE,  Amer.  Monthly  Mag.,  III.,  1818,  p.  446. 

Peromyscus  leucopus  RHOADS,  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  1896  (1897),  p.  187 
(Tennessee).  HAHN,  Ann.  Rept.  Dept.  Geol.  &  Nat.  Resources  Ind.,  1908  (1909), 
p.  496  (Indiana).  OSGOOD,  N.  Amer.  Fauna,  No.  28,  1909,  p.  113  (Kentucky, 
Tennessee,  etc.). 

Type  locality  —  Western  Kentucky. 

Distribution  —  From  the  Atlantic  coast  of  Virginia  and  North  Carolina 
westward  around  the  southern  end  of  the  Allegheny  Mountains, 
through  northern  South  Carolina  and  Georgia  to  Oklahoma,  north 
to  southern  Illinois  and  south  to  southern  Louisiana. 

Description  —  Adult:  Upper  parts  brown,  darker  on  middle  of  back 
than  on  sides;  under  parts  white,  the  concealed  bases  of  the  hairs 
slaty  gray,  the  tips  white;  upper  surface  of  tail  brown,  under  surface 
whitish. 

Young:     Feet  white;  plumbeous  gray  all  over  except  the  belly 
where  the  hairs  are  tipped  with  white. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND^WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        185 

Measurements  —  Total  length,  about  7  in.  (178  mm.);  tail  vertebrae, 

3  in.  (76  mm.);  hind  foot,  .85  in.  (21  mm.). 

This  species  occurs  in  southern  Illinois.  Its  habits  are  similar  to 
those  of  the  Northern  White-footed  Mouse,  Peromyscus  leucopus 
noveboracensis. 

Specimens  examined  from  Illinois: 
Illinois  —  Reevesville,    Johnson    Co.,    14;    Ozark,    Johnson    Co.,    18; 

Golconda,  Pope  Co.,  8;  Olive  Branch,  Alexander  Co.,  8  =  48. 

Peromyscus  leucopus  noveboracensis  (FISCHER). 

NORTHERN  WHITE-FOOTED  MOUSE. 
NORTHERN  WHITE-FOOTED  WOOD  MOUSE.    WOODLAND  DEER  MOUSE. 

[Mus  sylvaticus]  Noveboracensis  FISCHER,  Synopsis  Mamm.,  1829,  p.  318. 
Mus  leucopus  LAPHAM,  Trans.  Wis.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  II,  1852  (1853),  p.  340  (Wiscon- 
sin).   KENNICOTT,  Agr.  Rept.  for  1856,  U.  S.  Patent  Office  Rept.,  1857,  P-  9° 
(Illinois).    SNYDER,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  II,  1902,  p.  117. 
Vesperimus  leucopus  HERRICK,  Geol.  &  Nat.  Hist.  Surv.  Minn.,  Bull.  No.  7,  1892, 

p.  178  (Minnesota). 
Hesperomys  leucopus  ALLEN,  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  XIII,  1869  (1871),  p.  192 

(Iowa). 

Peromyscus  leucopus  noveboracensis  JACKSON,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  VI,  1908, 

p.  21   (Wisconsin).     HAHN,  Ann.  Rept.  Dept.  Geol.  &  Nat.  Resources  Ind., 

1908  (1909),  p.  497  (Indiana).     OSGOOD,  N.  A.  Fauna,  No.  28,  1909,  p.  117 

(Illinois,  Indiana,  Iowa,  Kentucky,  Michigan,  Minnesota,  Missouri,  Wisconsin, 

etc.).     WOOD,  Bull.  111.  State  Lab.  Nat.  Hist.,  VIII,  1910,  p.  539  (Illinois). 

Type  locality  —  New  York. 

Distribution  —  Northern   United    States,    Nova   Scotia   and   a   small 

portion  of  southern  Ontario,  west  to  Minnesota,  south  to  Missouri, 

south-central  Illinois  and  Indiana  (where  it  intergrades  with  P. 

leucopus),  eastern  Tennessee  and  Virginia.    (See  map.) 
Description  —  Similar  to  P.  leucopus  but  averaging  slightly  larger  and 

somewhat  paler;  fur  somewhat  longer  and  softer. 
Measurements  —  Total  length,  about  7  in.  (178  mm.);  tail  vertebrae, 

about  3  in.  (76  mm.);  hind  foot,  .87  (22  mm.). 

The  Northern  White-footed  Mouse  is  normally  an  inhabitant  of  the 
woods,  although  in  summer  it  is  often  found  in  pastures  where  there  are 
bushes  and  stumps.  Old  corn  shocks  are  favorite  resorts  of  these 
Mice,  but  they  are  not  commonly  found  at  any  great  distance  from 
timber-land  of  some  sort;  although  Snyder  states  that  he  has  "taken 
them  in  traps  in  grassy  fields  a  mile  from  any  timber"  (I.  c.,  p.  117). 
It  builds  its  nest  under  logs  or  in  an  old  hollow  log  or  pile  of  brush, 
and  again  in  bushes.  I  have  found  several  of  the  latter,  none  of  which 


i86    FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        187 

was  more  than  three  feet  from  the  ground  and  in  most  cases  an  old 
bird's  nest  had  been  altered  and  made  use  of.  The  nest  is  composed  of 
small  twigs,  grass  and  leaves.  When  in  the  ground,  perhaps  under  an 
old  stump,  it  is  reached  by  short  underground  tunnels.  These  animals 
do  not  hibernate.  They  are  active  in  winter  and  store  up  grain  and 
seeds  for  their  use  during  the  cold  weather.  The  young  number  from 
4  to  6  and  two  or  three  litters  are  born  in  a  season. 

Concerning  the  habits  of  this  species  in  northern  Illinois,  Kennicott 
writes,  "In  this  vicinity,  the  Mus  leucopus  appears  to  inhabit  the  timber, 
only.  I  never  observed  one  on  the  prairie.  It  is  found  in  wooded 
farms,  where  it  is  more  or  less  injurious  to  the  farmer,  carrying  off 
and  devouring  grain,  destroying  various  young  plants,  and  occasionally 
doing  much  mischief  by  gnawing  the  bark  of  fruit-trees.  On  the 
whole,  however,  it  cannot  be  considered  very  injurious.  Though  it 
may  inhabit  grain-fields  in  harvest  time,  it  is  decidedly  a  timber  lover, 
and  never  breeds  nor  takes  up  its  residence  permanently  in  large  fields, 
clear  of  trees,  stumps  and  logs.  Its  home  is  usually  in  an  old  stump  or 
fallen  log,  under  the  bark  of  decayed  trees,  and  sometimes  in  hollow 
trees,  at  a  considerable  height  above  the  ground.  It  sometimes  takes 
possession  of  deserted  birds'  nests,  and  occasionally  builds  in  the 
branches  of  trees.  Dr.  Hoy  informs  me  that  he  has  seen  several  of  its 
nests  in  southern  Wisconsin.  They  are  usually  placed  among  the 
thick  branches  of  a  thorn,  at  a  height  of  8  or  10  feet  from  the  ground. 
The  nests  were  composed  of  grass,  and  were  of  globular  form,  the 
entrance  being  a  small  hole  on  one  side.  I  have  also  found  nests  on  the 
ground,  under  logs,  and  once  in  August,  found  a  female,  about  to  bring 
forth  young,  in  a  nest  of  grass  under  a  small  block  of  wood  on  a  low 
river  bottom.  .  .  .  This  mouse  is  sometimes  gregarious,  as  many 
as  a  dozen  having  been  found  together  in  winter.  .  .  . 

"The  white-footed  wood-mouse  feeds  chiefly  upon  the  leaves  and 
seeds  of  various  grasses  and  other  herbaceous  plants,  with  nuts,  acorns r 
and  the  seeds  of  basswood,  maple,  and  other  trees;  grain  is  also  eaten 
greedily  by  it  in  the  fields.  It  lays  up  considerable  stores  of  food  in 
winter. 

"This  species  is  active  in  winter,  like  the  rest  of  the  genus,  moving 
about  a  good  deal  on  top  of  the  snow,  as  well  as  below  it,  and  sometimes 
travelling  a  long  distance  at  this  season.  Mr.  Lawrence  Koebelin  tells 
me  that,  in  cold  weather,  in  December,  he  found  one  which  had  collected 
grass  and  formed  a  large  nest  in  a  pile  of  wood  within  two  days  after 
it  had  been  cut. 

"The  female  exhibits  much  affection  for  her  young.  These,  when 
small,  I  have  always  found  attached  to  her  teats,  in  which  way  she 


i88     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  — ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 

would  carry  them  off,  moving,  unless  chased,  with  great  caution,  as 
though  she  feared  to  injure  them.  A  neighbor  relates  that  in  turning 
over  a  log  in  the  woods,  he  exposed  one  of  these  mice,  which,  instead  of 
jumping  off  rapidly,  moved  slowly  away  along  a  small  log,  and  was 
observed  to  have  several -young  attached  to  her  teats.  Her  movements 
being  watched  with  interest,  one  of  the  young  was  seen  to  be  brushed 
off  and  fall  among  the  grass,  the  mother  passing  on  out  of  sight.  The 
young  mouse  left  was  quite  helpless  and  continued  to  utter  a  low  squeak. 
After  a  while,  the  mother  returned,  to  it,  and  though  her  movements 
could  no  longer  be  observed,  the  voice  of  the  young  mouse  ceased,  and 
upon  examination  of  the  spot,  it  was  found  to  have  disappeared  with 
the  mother.  It  is  not  to  be  supposed,  however,  that  the  young  of  this 
mouse  are  attached  to  the  mammas  of  the  parent  like  those  of  the 
opossum"  (I.  c.,  pp.  90-91). 

"Caged  specimens  do  not  eat  flesh  and  are  not  at  all  pugnacious" 
(Kennicott,  /.  c.,  pp.  90-91).  This  last  statement  by  Kennicott  does 
not  agree  with  observations  of  later  writers.  I  have  known  a  wild 
one  to  eat  part  of  a  dead  bird  and  in  captivity  it  will  readily  eat  meat. 
Dr.  C.  Hart  Merriam  says,*  "The  White-footed  Mouse  is  fond  of  flesh, 
and,  like  the  flying  squirrel,  eagerly  devours  dead  birds  placed  in  its 
way."  Mr.  W.  L.  Hahn  writes,  "A  number  of  white-footed  mice  were 
left  in  captivity  at  different  times,  but  they  could  not  be  kept  together. 
On  one  occasion  six  were  caught  under  corn  shocks  and  were  divided 
equally  between  two  cages.  Next  morning  each  cage  contained  two 
partially  eaten  carcasses,  while  of  the  survivors  in  each  cage  one  died 
within  a  few  hours  and  the  other  a  day  later  (I.  c.,  p.  499).  This  Mouse 
is  naturally  gentle  and  rarely  attemps  to  bite  even  when  just  caught. 
When  in  captivity  it  soon  becomes  very  tame  and  makes  an  amusing 
pet. 

Specimens  examined  from  Illinois,  Wisconsin  and  adjoining  states': 

Illinois  —  Fox  Lake,  18;  Camp  Logan,  6;  Warsaw,  i;  Galena,  9  =  34. 

Wisconsin  —  Delavan  Lake,  2;  Camp  Douglas,  3;  Beaver  Dam,  14; 
(M.  P.  M.)  Milwaukee,  4;  Prescott,  Pierce  Co.,  98;  Maiden  Rock, 
21 ;  Yellow  River,  Burnett  Co.,  10;  Newport,  Door  Co.,  3;  Delavan, 
9;  Polk  Co.,  i;  Prairie  du  Sac,  Sauk  Co.,  41;  Grant  Co.,  2;  (O.  C.) 
Whitefish  Bay,  Milwaukee  Co.,  9;  Nashotah,  Waukesha  Co.,  10 
=  224. 

Indiana  —  Mitchell,  i ;  La  Porte,  3  =  4. 

Michigan  —  Dowagiac,  Cass  Co.,  13. 

*  Mamm.  Adirondack  Reg.,  1886,  p.  265. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        189 


Map  illustrating  the  approximate  distribution  of  the  White-footed  Mice  (Peromyscus  leucopus 
and  races)  in  eastern  United  States. 


Peromyscus  leucopus  (RAFINESQUE).  Type  locality  —  Western  Kentucky.  Descrip- 
tion as  previously  given. 

Peromyscus  1.  noveboracensis  (FISCHER).  Type  locality  —  New  York.  Similar  to 
leucopus,  but  slightly  larger  and  somewhat  paler;  pelage  longer. 

Peromyscus  1.  ammodytes  BANGS.  (Proc.  New  Engl.  Zool.  Club,  IV,  1905,  p.  14.) 
Type  locality  —  Monomoy  Island  off  coast  of  southeastern  Massachusetts. 
Similar  to  noveboracensis,  but  under  parts  pure  white  to  roots  of  hairs. 

Peromyscus  I.  fusus  BANGS.  (Proc.  New  Engl.  Zool.  Club,  IV,  1905,  p.  13.)  Type 
locality  —  West  Tisbury,  Island  of  Martha's  Vineyard,  off  south  coast  of 
Massachusetts.  Similar  but  averaging  larger  than  noveboracensis,  and  rostrum 
of  skull  slightly  more  elongated. 


igo     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

Peromyscus  maniculatus  bairdi.  (HOY  &  KENNICOTT). 

PRAIRIE  WHITE-FOOTED  MOUSE. 

PRAIRIE  DEER  MOUSE.     BAIRD'S  DEER  MOUSE.     MICHIGAN  DEER 

MOUSE. 

Mus  bairdii  HOY  &  KENNICOTT,  in  Kennicott,  Agr.  Rept.  for  1856,  U.  S.  Patent 
Office  Rept.,  1857,  p.  92. 

Peromyscus  bairdi  SNYDER,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  II,  1902,  p.  116  (Wisconsin). 
HOLLISTER,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  VI,  1908,  p.  40  (Wisconsin). 

Peromyscus  michiganensis  JACKSON,  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XX,  1907,  p.  72  (Mis- 
souri). Ib.,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  VI,  1908,  p.  21  (Wisconsin).  HAHN, 
Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  XXXII,  1907,  p.  459  (Indiana). 

Peromyscus  maniculatus  bairdi  HAHN,  Ann.  Rept.  Dept.  Geol.  &  Nat.  Resources 
Ind.,  1908  (1909),  p.  502  (Indiana).     OSGOOD,  N.  Amer.  Fauna,  No.  28,  1909, 
p.  79  (Illinois,  Indiana,  Iowa,  Michigan,  Minnesota,  Missouri,  Wisconsin,  etc.). 
HOWELL,  Proc.   Biol.   Soc.  Wash.,  XXIII,  1910,  p.   26      (Illinois,    Missouri).  • 
WOOD,  Bull.  111.  State  Lab.  Nat.  Hist.,  VIII,  1910,  p.  544  (Illinois). 

Type  locality  —  Bloomington,  McLean  Co.,  Illinois. 

Distribution  —  Prairie  region  of  the  upper  Mississippi  Valley  in  "Wis- 
consin, Illinois,  Indiana,  Minnesota,  eastern  Ohio,  Iowa,  Missouri, 
Oklahoma,    and    eastern    portions    of    Nebraska,    Kansas,    South   ' 
Dakota,  and  North  Dakota;  north  to  southern  Manitoba. 

Special  characters  —  Resembles  P.  I.  noveboracensis  but  somewhat 
smaller,  tail  shorter,  and  general  color  slightly  darker  (less  brownish). 

Description  —  Upper  parts  brown,  the  middle  of  the  back  dark  brown, 
much  darker  than  the  sides;  under  parts  white  or  whitish,  the  bases 
of  the  hairs  slaty  gray,  the  tips  white.  When  the  hair  is  short 
and  worn,  the  dark  bases  are  not  entirely  concealed,  giving  a  gray- 
ish appearance  to  the  under  parts.  Upper  surface  of  tail  dark; 
under  surface  pale. 

Measurements- — Total  length,  5.50  to  6.50  in.  (140  to  165  mm.);  tail 
vertebrae,  2.25  to  2.75  in.  (57  to  69.5  mm.);  hind  foot,  .70  to  .75 
in.  (18  to  19  mm.). 

The  Prairie  White-footed  Mouse  is  abundant  in  suitable  localities 
in  the  greater  portion  of  Illinois  and  Wisconsin,  and,  as  its  name  implies, 
it  inhabits  dry,  cultivated  fields  and  prairies,  but  it  also  is  found  in 
open  woods  where  the  growth  is  small  and  scattered.  Regarding  its 
habits,  I  cannot  do  better  than  to  quote  Robert  Kennicott  who  had 
unusual  opportunities  for  observing  it.  He  says,  "Not  having,  on  the 
prairies,  the  shelter  found  by  its  timber-loving  cousins,  in  old  stumps 
and  trees,  this  species  digs  burrows.  These  are  rather  simple,  with 
few  or  no  side-passages,  and  often  with  but  one  entrance,  the  depth 
and  extent  being  variable,  but  never  great.  The  nest  is  small,  com- 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        191 


V 


192     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

posed  of  soft  grass,  etc.;  it  is  spherical,  and  the  small  internal  cavity 
is  entered  through  a  narrow  opening  on  one  side.  In  cultivated  fields 
the  burrows  are  frequently  dug  at  the  roots  of  fruit-trees,  the  bark  of 
which  is  often  gnawed,  sometimes  causing  great  injury.  In  nurseries, 
fruit-trees  are  often  taken  up  and  'heeled  in';  that  is,  laid  down  close 
together,  with  the  roots  placed  in  a  trench,  and  then  covered  in  such 
manner  that  they  are  kept  safely  in  a  very  small  space,  and  can  be 
readily  pulled  out  when  desired.  The  loose  earth  among  the  roots 
of  these  offers  an  inviting  habitation  to  the  mice;  and,  in  nurseries  in- 
fested by  them,  they  will  be  found  burrowing  in  almost  every  lot  of 
trees  thus  buried,  where  they  feed  upon  the  bark  of  the  roots,  and  thus 
cause  serious  damage.  In  the  fall,  they  are  often  found  in  corn-shocks, 
making  a  nest  among  the  stalks,  though  they  do  not  so  often  burrow 
under  these  as  the  arvicolas.  But,  during  winter,  they  may  be  tracked 
in  corn-fields  from  their  burrows  to  the  neighboring  corn-shocks,  which 
they  have  visited  for  food.  In  spring,  the  young  are  always  produced 
in  burrows.  During  the  summer,  however,  they  occasionally  are 
observed  in  nests,  under  bits  of  wood  or  bunches  of  hay,  on  the  surface 
of  the  ground.  In  autumn,  I  have  found  nests  of  the  young  in  small 
burrows  only  a  few  inches  below  the  surface,  or  under  an  inverted  sod. 
I  have  never  observed  more  than  one  pair  of  adults  occupying  the  same 
burrow;  and,  unlike  the  Mus  leucopus,  this  species  never  appears  to 
be  gregarious. 

"This  mouse  must  be  very  prolific.  I  have  found  the  young  in 
March  and  April,  and  observed  two  females,  each  with  five  young, 
apparently  but  a  few  days  old,  about  the  tenth  of  November,  while 
they  are  found  in  every  intervening  month.  In  nearly  every  instance 
within  my  observation  the  number  of  young  produced  at  a  birth  has 
been  five.  I  once  found  six,  and  have  at  times,  though  rarely,  seen 
three  or  four.  The  young  are  found  attached  to  the  teats,  as  in  the 
species  last  described;  and  a  female  was  seen  to  carry  five  for  several 
rods  in  this  way,  jumping  along  rapidly  despite  their  weight.  As 
soon  as  they  are  able  to  take  care  of  themselves,  the  young  leave  the 
mother.  In  summer,  I  have  several  times  found  one  apparently  but 
a  few  weeks  old,  living  alone  in  a  nest  made  by  himself.  In  spring,  I 
have  always  found  the  old  male  living  with  the  female  and  young;  but 
during  the  summer,  I  have  sometimes  observed  the  male  leading  a 
solitary  life,  and  the  females  and  young  in  burrows  by  themselves. 
The  food  of  this  mouse,  on  the  prairies,  appears  to  be  herbaceous  plants, 
with  their  seeds;  but  I  have  been  unable  to  see  that  it  ever  digs  for 
roots.  It  is  interesting  to  observe  that  this,  like  the  Mus  leucopus, 
seeks  its  food  on  the  top  of  the  ground,  running  on  the  snow  in  winter 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        193 

in  search  of  seeds,  and  collecting  them  in  autumn  instead  of  roots,  when 
it  travels  as  often  by  springing  over  the  grass  as  by  running  through  it. 
This  mouse  probably  feeds  more  or  less  upon  insects,  as  it  is  carnivorous 
in  captivity;  though  some  specimens  are  much  less  so  than  others.  On 
one  occasion,  I  captured  a  pair  with  five  young,  and  placed  them  all 
in  a  cage  well  supplied  with  various  kinds  of  vegetables  and  grain. 
The  next  day,  several  of  the  young  were  killed  and  eaten,  and  in  two 
or  three  days,  they  had  all  disappeared.  Shortly  afterwards,  the 
male,  which  had  been  slightly  injured,  was  found  dead,  and  partly 
devoured  by  his  rapacious  spouse.  After  this,  I  fed  my  specimens  with 
meat,  as  well  as  grain,  which  they  ate;  and,  as  long  as  they  were  sup- 
plied with  it,  they  lived  together  harmless;  but  no  sooner  was  this 
withheld,  than  the  old  ones,  both  male  and  female,  devoured  their 
young."  (/.  c.,  pp.  93-94.) 

Specimens  examined  from  Illinois,  Wisconsin  and  adjoining  states: 

Illinois  —  Olive  Branch,  6;  Fox  Lake,  17;  Reevesville,  3  =  26. 

Wisconsin1 — Beaver  Dam,  35;  Milton,  i;  Delavan,  i;  (M.  P.  M.) 
Jefferson  Co.,  2;  Prescott,  Pierce  Co.,  38;  Maiden  Rock,  i;  Dela- 
van, 3;  Newport,  Door  Co.,  3  (not  typical);  Kelly  Brook,  Oconto 
Co.,  i ;  Prairie  du  Sac,  Sauk  Co.,  41 ;  Wyalusing,  Grant  Co.,  2  =  128. 

Indiana  —  La  Porte,  2;  Denver,  2  =  4. 

Minnesota  —  Ft.  Snelling,  2;  Steel  County,  4  =  6 

Peromyscus  maniculatus  gracilis  (LECONTE). 
CANADIAN  WHITE-FOOTED  MOUSE.     CANADIAN  DEER  MOUSE. 

Hesperomys  gracilis  LECONTE,  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  VII,  1855,  p.  442. 

Peromyscus  canadensis  ADAMS,  Rept.  State  Board  Geol.  Surv.  Mich.,  1905  (1906), 
p.  129  (Michigan).  JACKSON,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  VI,  1908,  p.  20  (Wis- 
consin). 

Peromyscus  maniculatus  gracilis  OSGOOD,  N.  Amer.  Fauna,  No.  28,  1909,  p.  42 
(Michigan,  Minnesota,  Wisconsin,  etc.). 

Type  locality  —  Michigan. 

Distribution  —  "Northeastern  United  States  and.  southern  Canada, 
from  northern  Minnesota  east  through  northern  Wisconsin,  Michi- 
gan, Ontario,  Quebec,  New  York  and  western  New  England.  Can- 
adian Zone"  (Osgood). 

Special  characters  —  Somewhat  similar  to  P.  m.  bairdi,  but  total  length 
greater  and  tail  decidedly  longer;  more  likely  to  be  confounded 
with  P.  I.  noveboracensis,  which  it  often  closely  resembles.  (For 
distinguishing  characters,  as  compared  with  that  species,  see  foot- 
note page  174.) 


194     FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 

Description  —  General  color  of  upper  parts  brown,  somewhat  variable 
in  shade  (usually  from  dull  cinnamon  to  isabella  color) ;  middle 
of  back  darker  brown  than  sides;  ears  brown  with  a  faint  whitish 
edging  when  closely  examined,  occasionally  a  few  whitish  hairs 
at  anterior  bases  of  ears,  but  often  absent;  a  blackish  spot  at  the 
base  of  the  whiskers;  hairs  on  under  parts  of  body  white  at  tips, 
the  bases  plumbeous  gray;  the  general  color  of  under  parts  white 
or  grayish  white  according  to  the  condition  of  the  pelage;  feet 
white;  upper  surface  of  tail  brown  with  narrow  white  edge,  under 
surface  white;  tip  of  tail  pencillate. 

Measurements  —  Total  length,  6.87  to  7.50  in.  (175  to  190  mm.);  tail 
vertebrae,  3.75  to  4  in.  (80  to  100  mm.);  hind  foot,  .80  to  .87  in. 
(20  to  22  mm.). 

The  Canadian  White-footed  Mouse  occurs  within  our  limits  in 
the  Pine  regions  of  northern  Wisconsin,  where  it  is  common  in  deep 
woods.  It  may  be  looked  for  near  water  courses,  among  rocks,  and 
about  old  logs.  A  favorite  resort  of  this  mouse  is  in  and  about  old 
log  cabins.  So  far  as  known,  its  habits  differ  but  little  from  other 
Wood  Mice  belonging  to  the  genus.  In  Wisconsin  it  not  uncommonly 
makes  its  nest  in  a  hollow  log  or  stump,  or  in  openings  between  the 
logs  of  old  cabins.  In  such  places  the  nest  is  in  the  middle  of  a  rounded 
mass  of  grass  often  mixed  with  leaves  and  small  pieces  of  bark. 

Ernest  Thompson  Seton  in  writing  of  the  habits  of  the  closely  allied 
northern  form,  P.  m.  arcticus,  which  undoubtedly  differ  little  if  any 
from  that  of  gracilis,  says,*  'When  the  nest  is  disturbed  so  that  the 
mother  runs  out,  she  commonly  carries  off  some  or  even  all  of  her 
brood  attached  to  her  teats.  This,  however,  is  not  her  regular  mode 
of  carrying  them  about,  but  is  rather  due  to  the  fact  that  the  young 
when  very  small  attached  themselves  firmly  to  the  teat,  almost  in  mar- 
supial style,  and  the  mother  has  not  time  to  disengage  herself  if  sud- 
denly driven  forth.  Most  of  the  Deermice  carry  their  young  in  the 
mouth,  one  at  a  time,  when  they  move  them,  just  as  a  cat  does  her 
kittens." 

Specimens  examined  from  Wisconsin  and  adjoining  states : 
Wisconsin  —  Solon  Springs,  4;  Spread  Eagle,  4;  Lac  Vieux  Desert, 
Vilas  Co.,  ii ;  (M.  P.  M.)  Upper  St.  Croix  Lake,  Douglas  Co.,  7; 
St.  Croix  Dam,  6;  Eagle  River,  2;  Mercer,  i;  Namekagan  River, 
Burnett  Co.,  9;  Marinette  Co.,  2;  Cataline,  2;  Divide,  Vilas  Co., 

4=52. 
Michigan  —  Park  Siding,  4. 

*  Life  Histories  of  Northern  Animals,  I,  1909,  p.  496. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        195 


Map  illustrating  approximate  range  of  the  Prairie  White-footed  Mouse  (P.  m.  bairdi)  and  the 
Canadian  White-footed  Mouse  (P.  m.  gracilis) ,  which  occur  within  our  limits,  together  with  the  south- 
ern portion  of  the  range  of  P.  maniculatus  and  type  localities  of  other  geographical  races  of  manicidatus, 
which  occur  in  eastern  United  States  and  Canada. 

Peromyscus  maniculatus  (WAGNER).  (Wieg.  Arch.  f.  Naturg.,  XI,  I,  1845,  p.  148.) 
Type  locality  —  Labrador.  Upper  parts  brown,  the  middle  of  the  back  decidedly 
darker  than  the  sides;  under  parts  white  or  grayish  white  (the  hairs  plumbeous 
gray  at  bases  with  white  tips);  tail  bicolor  and  pencillate  (blackish  above, 
whitish  below).  Total  length,  7  to  7.75  in.  (178  to  197  mm.);  tail  vertebrae, 
3  to  3.75  in.  (76  to  95  mm.);  hind  foot,  .75  to  .87  in.  (19  to  22.5  mm.). 

Peromyscus  m.  gracilis  (LECoNTE).  Type  locality  —  Michigan.  Similar  to  man- 
iculatus but  tail  longer  (3.75  to  4  inches),  hind  foot  smaller  and  skull  smaller 
and  narrower;  characters  and  measurements  given  on  page  194. 

Peromyscus  m.  bairdi  (Hov  &  KENNICOTT).  Type  locality  —  Bloomington,  McLean 
County,  Illinois.  Somewhat  darker,  tail  shorter  (less  than  2.75  in.);  for 
description  and  measurements  see  page  190. 

Peromyscus  m.  abietorum  (BANGS).  (Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  X,  1896,  p.  49.)  Type 
locality  —  James  River,  Nova  Scotia.  Similar  to  gracilis,  but  paler  and  some- 
what grayer. 


196    FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

Peromyscus  m.  eremus  OSGOOD.  (N.  Amer.  Fauna,  No.  28,  1909,  p.  47.)  Type  local- 
ity—  Pleasant  Bay,  Grindstone  Island,  Magdalen  Islands.  "Similar  to  P.  m. 
abietorum,  but  color  darker  and  tail  shorter;  similar  to  P.  maniculatus,  but  paler 
and  slightly  smaller."  (Osgood.) 

Peromyscus  m.  argentatus  (COPELAND  &  CHURCH).  (Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XIX, 
1906,  p.  122.)  Type  locality  —  Grand  Harbor,  Island  of  Grand  Manan,  New 
Brunswick.  Color  more  grayish  than  either  maniculatus  or  abietorum. 

Peromyscus  m.  nubiterrce  (RHOADS).  (Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  1896  (1897), 
p.  187.)  Type  locality  —  Summit  of  Roan  Mountain,  North  Carolina,  alti- 
tude 6370  feet.  Similar  to  gracilis,  but  averaging  smaller;  tail  longer  than  head 
and  body. 

Peromyscus  gossypinus  megacephalus  (RHOADS'). 
WESTERN  COTTON  MOUSE. 

Sitomys  megacephalus  RHOADS,  Proc.  Ac'ad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  1894,  p.  254. 
Peromyscus  gossypinus  mississippiensis   RHOADS,    Proc.    Acad.    Nat.    Sci.    Phila., 

1896  (1897),  p.  189. 
Peromyscus  gossypinus  megacephalus  OSGOOD,  N.  Amer.  Fauna,  No.  28,  1909,   p. 

138  (Tennessee,  Arkansas,  etc.).    HOWELL,  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XXIII,  1910, 

p.  26  (Illinois  and  Missouri). 

Type  locality  —  Woodville,  Alabama. 

Distribution  —  Southern  Illinois,  western  Kentucky  and  Tennessee, 
to  northern  Alabama,  thence  through  northern  Mississippi,  eastern 
and  southern  Arkansas  to  Oklahoma,  eastern  Texas  and  western 
Louisiana. 


Western  Cotton  Mouse  (Peromyscus  gossypirus  megacephalu 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        197 

Special  characters  —  Largest  species  of  the  genus,  which  occurs  within 
our  limits;  very  similar  to  P.  leucopus,  but  may  be  distinguished 
by  size. 

Description  —  Middle  of  back  from  crown  to  base  of  tail  dark  brown 
shading  to  cinnamon  brown  on  the  sides;  under  parts  white  or 


Map  illustrating  approximate  distribution  of  the  Cotton  Mice  (Peromyscus  gossypinus  and 
races)  in  eastern  United  States. 


Peromyscus  gossypinus  (LECoNTE).  (Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  VI,  1853,  p.  411.) 
Type  locality  —  LeConte  Plantation  near  Riceboro,  Liberty  Co.,  Georgia.  Gen- 
eral color  darker  and  size  smaller  than  megacephalus.  Does  not  occur  within 
our  limits. 

Peromyscus  g.  megacephalus  (RHOADS).  Type  locality  —  Woodville,  Alabama. 
Similar  to  gossypinus,  but  slightly  paler  and  larger.  Description  and  measure- 
ments as  previously  given. 

Peromyscus  g.  palmarius  BANGS.  (Proc.  Bi6l.  Soc.  Wash.,  X,  1896,  p.  124.)  Type 
locality  —  Oak  Lodge,  east  coast  of  Florida  opposite  Micco,  Brevard  Co.  Smal- 
ler and  paler  than  gossypinus. 

Peromyscusg.  anastasce  (BANGS).  (Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  XXVIII,  1898,  p. 
J95-)  Type  locality  —  Point  Romo,  Anastasia  Island,  near  St.  Augustine, 
Florida.  About  equal  in  size  to  palmarius,  but  palest  of  the  group. 


198    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

whitish,  the  hairs  plumbeous  gray  at  base  and  tipped  with  white; 

feet  white;  tail  rather  thinly  haired,  dark  above,  pale  or  whitish 

below. 
Measurements  —  Total    length,     about     7.25     in.      (184     mm.);     tail 

vertebrae,  3.20  in.  (79  to  83  mm.);  hind  foot,  .96  in.  (24  mm.). 

The  Western  Cotton  Mouse  is  not  uncommon  in  southern  Illinois. 
The  Museum  collection  contains  specimens  from  Ozark,  Golconda,  and 
Olive  Branch,  but  thus  far  it  has  only  been  taken  in  the  extreme  south- 
ern portion  of  the  state.  Howell  states  that  it  is  common  in  swamps 
and  wooded  bluffs  of  the  Lower  Austral  Zone  and  that  specimens  were 
collected  at  Olive  Branch,  Wolf  Lake  and  Golconda,  Illinois,  and  also 
in  Missouri.  (1.  c.,  p.  26.)  Rhoads,  who  observed  this  Mouse  in 
Tennessee,  writes,  "So  far  as  I  have  made  its  acquaintance  in  Tennes- 
see, the  Cane  Mouse  is  solely  a  denizen  of  the.  'bottom  lands'  of  the 
Mississippi.  At  Samburg  it  confined  its  wanderings  very  closely  to 
the  immediate  vicinity  of  Reelfoot  Lake,  and  was  abundant  in  the 
dense  forest  jungle  that  bordered  its  margin,  seeming  to  prefer  the 
lowest  and  wettest  parts  of  the  overflowed  lands."  (I.  c.,  p.  189.) 

Specimens  examined  from  Illinois : 
Illinois  —  Ozark,  Johnson  Co.,  7;  Golconda,  Pope  Co.,  2;  Olive  Branch, 

Alexander  Co.,  i  =  10. 

Subgenus  OCHROTOMYS  Osgood. 

"Ears  bright  ochraceous,  same  color  as  body;  posterior  palatine 
foramina  nearer  to  interpterygoid  fossa  than  to  anterior  palatine 
foramina ;  dentine  spaces  of  molars  mostly  closed ' '  (Osgood) . 

Peromyscus  nuttalli  aureolus  (AUD.  &  BACH.). 
SOUTHERN  GOLDEN  MOUSE. 

Mus  (Calomys)  aureolus  AUD.  &  BACH.,  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  I,  1841,  p.  98. 

Hesperomys  nuttalli  KENNICOTT,  Agr.  Rept.  for  1857,  U.  S.  Patent  Office  Rept., 
1858,  p.  87  (southern  Illinois). 

Peromyscus  nuttalli  aureolus  OSGOOD,  N.  Amer.  Fauna,  No.  28,  1909,  p.  225  (Mis- 
souri, Arkansas,  etc.).  WOOD,  Bull.  111.  State  Lab.  Nat.  Hist.,  VIII,  1910,  p. 
549  (Illinois). 

Type  locality  —  Oak  forests  of  South  Carolina. 

Distribution  —  Southeastern  United  States  from  northern  Florida 
to  North  Carolina,  west  through  the  more  southern  portions  of 
Georgia  and  Alabama,  the  whole  of  Mississippi,  western  Tennessee 
and  western  Kentucky,  southern  Illinois,  southeastern  Missouri 
and  the  greater  portion  of  Arkansas  and  Louisiana  to  eastern  Texas 
and  Oklahoma. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        199 


2oo     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 

Special  characters — The  golden  brown  color  of  the  upper  parts  will  readily 
distinguish  it  from  others  of  the  genus,  which  occur  within  our  limits. 

Description  —  Upper  parts  bright  tawny  brown  or  "golden  brown," 
middle  of  the  back  tinged  with  darker  brown;  under  parts  cream 
white,  often  showing  a  faint  tinge  of  tawny  buff;  hairs  on  under  parts 
(except  throat)  with  concealed  bases  plumbeous  slate  color,  the 
tips  white;  face  about  the  same  color  as  sides,  without  any  blackish 
marking;  feet  cream  white;  tail  dark  brown  above,  white  beneath. 

Measurements  —  Total  length,  6.25  to  7  in.  (158  to  178 mm.);  tail  verte- 
brae, 2.80  to  3.25  in.  (70  to  82  mm.);  hind  foot,  .75  in.  (19  mm.). 


Map  illustrating  approximate  distribution  of  the  Northern  Golden  Mouse  {Peromyscus  nuttalli) 
and  the  Southern  Golden  Mouse  (P.  n.  aureolus). 

Peromyscus  nuttalli  (HARLAN).  (Month.  Amer.  Journ.  Geol.  &  Nat.  Sci.,  Phila., 
1832,  p.  446.)  Type  locality  —  Norfolk,  Virginia.  Similar  to  aureolus,  but 
averaging  larger,  with  somewhat  larger  skull  and  molar  teeth.  Total  length, 
6.87  to  7.50  in.  (175  to  190  mm.);  tail  vertebrae,  3.25  to  3.65  in.  (82  to  93  mm.). 

Peromyscus  n.  aureolus  (AuD.  &  BACH.).  Type  locality  —  Oak  forests  of  South  Caro- 
lina. Averaging  smaller  than  nuttalli.  Description  as  previously  given.  Total 
length,  6.25  to  7  in.  (158  to  178  mm.);  tail  vertebrae,  2.80  to  3.25  in.  (70  to  82 
mm.).  Occurs  within  our  limits  in  southern  Illinois. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        201 

The  Southern  Golden  Mouse  occurs  within  our  limits  in  southern 
Illinois,  where  it  is  not  uncommon  in  small  growths  of  hard-wood  timber 
bordering  the  cypress  swamps.  All  the  specimens  in  the  Museum  were 
taken  near  Olive  Branch,  Alexander  Co.  Kennicott  secured  specimens 
in  Marion  County,  which  is  probably  not  very  far  from  its  northern 
limit.  He  says  —  "In  some  parts  of  Southern  Illinois  I  found  this 
species  to  be  well  known  as  distinct  from  the  common  deer-mouse, 
under  the  name  of  'Red  Mouse. '  .  .  .  I  captured  two  at  Murphys- 
boro  and  it  is  not  very  uncommon  near  Salem,  in  Marion  County.  It 
is  seldom  found,  if  ever,  in  the  northern  part  of  this  State. 

"The  red  mouse  appears  to  be  strictly  an  inhabitant  of  the  forest, 
like  the  deer-mouse  (Hesperomys  leucopus),  to  which  it  is  closely  allied 
in  habits  as  in  form.  Farmers  who  had  repeatedly  observed  this,  as 
well  as  the  deer-mouse,  in  the  woods  near  Salem,  inform  me  that  they 
never  heard  of  the  red  mouse  on  the  prairie,  though  it  frequented  clumps 
of  hazel  bushes  at  the  edges  of  the  prairies.  .  .  .  The  red  mouse 
is  more  arboreal  in  its  habits  than  the  deer-mouse.  I  observed  one, 
when  driven  from  its  nest,  at  once  take  refuge  on  a  tree,  instead  of  run- 
ning off  on  the  ground,  and  I  am  informed  that  these  mice  have  fre- 
quently been  seen  climbing  trees  and  shrubs.  From  a  gentleman,  of 
Salem,  I  learn  that  this,  like  the  deer-mouse,  builds  nests  in  the  branches 
of  small  trees,  and  that  several  were  found  in  the  tops  of  hazel  bushes, 
and  built  neatly,  somewhat  like  a  bird's  nest,  but  covered  at  top  with 
a  small  opening  on  the  side.  .  .  .  The  only  two  specimens  of  this 
mouse  which  I  have  seen  alive,  were  an  old  female  and  a  half  grown 
young  one,  found  together  in  the  month  of  May,  in  a  slight  nest  formed 
of  soft  fibres  of  bark,  and  placed  on  the  ground  under  a  log.  There 
was  no  burrow,  either  beneath  or  near  the  log,  though  the  female 
had  evidently  reared  her  young  in  this  nest.  The  species  probably 
does  not  generally  burrow  at  all."  (7.  c.,  pp.  87-88.) 

Specimens  examined  from  Illinois : 
Illinois  —  Olive  Branch,  Alexander  Co.,  22. 

Reithrodontomys  dychei  ALLEN,  DYCHE'S  HARVEST  MOUSE,  while 
not  as  yet  recorded  from  within  our  limits,  may  be  looked  for  in  southern 
and  western  Illinois,  as  it  has  been  taken  at  St.  Louis,  Missouri  (Allen, 
Bull.  Amer.  Mus.  Nat.  Hist.,  1895,  p.  121),  and  also  at  Fairport,  Mus- 
catine  Co.,  Iowa,  where  Mr.  T.  Surber  secured  four  specimens  during 
the  summer  of  1910,  which  were  kindly  sent  to  me  for  examination. 
The  following  characters  will  readily  distinguish  this  little  Mouse  from 
our  other  species: 

Middle  of  back  brown,  sides  grayish  bujj;  under  parts  white ;  crowns 


202     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

of  molars  tuberculate  ;  front  of  incisors  with  distinct  longitudinal  groove. 
Total  length,  about  5  in.  (120  to  130  mm.);  tail  vertebrae,  2  to  2.50  in. 
(50  to  65  mm.). 

Genus  ORYZOMYS  Baird. 

Oryzomys  Baird,  Mammals  N.  Amer.,  1857,  p.  458.     Type  Mus  palus- 

tris  Harlan. 

Molars  or  grinding  teeth  with  tubercles  on  crowns  arranged  in  two 
rows  ;  hair  on  tail  scanty  ;  skull  showing  a  distinct  ridge  over  eye  socket  ; 
belly  not  white;  hind  feet  large. 

Dental  formula:  I.  -  —  -,  C.  —  -,  Pm.  —  -,  M. 
-  -  - 


i-i        o-o  o-o         3-3 

Oryzomys  palustris  (HARLAN). 
RICE  FIELD  MOUSE.     RICE  RAT. 

Mus  palustris  HARLAN,  Silliman's  Amer.  Jour.  Sci.  &  Arts,  XXXI,  No.  2,  1837,  p.  386. 
Arvicola  oryzivora  AUDUBON  &  BACHMAN,  Quadrupeds  of  N.  Amer.,  Ill,  1854,  p.  214. 
Hesperomys  (Oryzomys)  palustris  BAIRD,  Mammals  N.  Amer.,  1857,  p.  459. 
Oryzomys  palustris  MERRIAM,  Proc.  Wash.  Acad.  Sci.,  Ill,  1901,  p.  276.     HAHN, 

Ann.  Kept.  Dept.  Geol.  &  Nat.  Resources  Ind.,  1908  (1909),  p.  640  (Indiana). 

HOWELL,  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XXIII,  1910,  p.  26  (Illinois  and  Missouri). 

Ib.,  p.  61  (Kentucky,  Tennessee,  etc.).     VAN  HYNING  &  PELLETT,  Proc.  Iowa 

Acad.  Sci.,  XVII,  1910,  p.  213  (Iowa). 
Calomys  palustris  EVERMANN  &  BUTLER,  Proc.  Ind.  Acad.  Sci.,  1893  (1894),  p.  139 

Type  locality  —  Fast  Land,  near  Salem,  Salem  Co.,  New  Jersey. 

Distribution  —  Southern  United  States,  from  southern  New  Jersey  to 
the  northern  border  of  Florida,  westward  throughout  the  Gulf 
states,  Tennessee  and  part  of  Kentucky,  southern  Illinois  and 
southern  Missouri  to  Kansas,  Oklahoma  and  eastern  Texas. 

Special  characters  —  Readily  distinguished  from  a  Peromyscus  by  its 
long  and  more  scantily  haired  tail,  its  large  hind  feet  and  decidedly 
less  abrupt  line  of  demarcation  between  color  of  sides  and  belly,  which 
is  gradual  and  not  sharply  defined,  and  from  all  other  Rats  or  Mice 
which  occur  within  our  limits  either  by  its  size  or  by  the  arrangement 
of  the  tubercles  on  the  crowns  of  the  grinding  teeth  (two  longitudinal 
rows).  It  occurs  within  our  limits  only  in  southern  Illinois. 

Description  —  Middle  of  upper  parts  from  head  to  base  of  tail  dark 
brown  shading  into  pale  brown  tinged  with  buffy  on  the  sides; 
under  parts  grayish,  the  hairs  grayish  plumbeous  at  the  base  and 
tipped  with  white,  but  the  grayish  under  fur  showing  through; 
tail  very  scantily  haired,  dark  above,  pale  below;  feet  whitish 
(pinkish  white  in  life). 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        203 

Measurements  —  (Average  of  8  specimens  from  various  localities.) 
Total  length,  8.88  in.  (225  mm.);  tail  vertebrae,  4.38  in.  (in  mm.); 
hind  foot,  1.15  in.  (29.6  mm.). 

The  Rice  Field  Mouse  occurs  within  our  limits  in  southern  Illinois, 
where  Mr.  Howell  secured  four  specimens  taken  at  Olive  Branch,  Alex- 
ander Co.  In  Louisiana  and  northwestern  Florida,  where  I  have  taken 
it,  it  inhabits  swampy  places,  hummocks,  and  old  fields,  but  apparently 
never  far  from  water,  in  which  it  is  quite  at  home,  being  an  expert 
swimmer.  In  such  localities  the  nest  is  in  a  burrow  in  the  ground, 
but  Audubon  and  Bachman  state  that  in  extensive  salt  marshes  they 


Map  illustrating  the  approximate  distribution  of  Rice  Field  Mice  or  Rice  Rats  of  the  genus 
Oryzomys  which  occur  in  eastern  United  States. 

Oryzomys  palustris  (HARLAN).     Type  locality  —  Fast  Land,  near  Salem,  Salem  Co., 

New  Jersey.     Description  as  previously  given. 
Oryzomys  p.  natator  CHAPMAN.    (Bull.  Amer.  Mus.  Nat.  Hist.,  V,  1893,  p.  44.)    Type 

locality  —  Gainesville,  Alachua  County,  Florida.     Larger  than  palustris  and 

tail  longer;  color  more  fulvous  brown. 
Oryzomys  p.  coloratus  BANGS.     (Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  XXVIII,  1898,  p.  189.) 

Type    locality  —  Cape   Sable,    Monroe    Co.,    Florida.     Larger    than   natator; 

color  more  reddish  brown. 


204     FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 

have  found  nests  of  this  species  suspended  on  a  branch  of  interlaced 
marsh  grass.  (1.  c.,  p.  215.)  According  to  Howell  the  species  is  par- 
ticularly abundant  in  the  marshes  on  the  coast  of  Alabama.  The 
young  generally  number  from  four  to  five  and  the  majority  are  born 
in  April. 

Subfamily  NEOTOMIN^. 

This  is  a  small  subfamily  confined  to  North  America.     The  molars 
are  not  tuberculate  but  the  crowns  have  irregular  enamel  loops. 


Genus  NEOTOMA  Say  &  Ord. 

Neotoma  Say  &  Ord.,  Jour.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  IV,  Pt.  2,  1825,  p. 

345.     Type  Mus  floridanus  Ord. 

Crowns  of  grinding  teeth  (molars)  with  irregular  loops;  first  and 
second  upper  molars  with  middle  enamel  loops  undivided  (for  illustra- 
tion see  p.  173.)?  third  lower  molar  with  two  transverse  enamel  loops 
bullae  oblique  and  tapering  anteriorly;  eyes  and  ears  large;  tail  covered 
with  hair;  size  large  for  the  family.  Three  subgenera  are  recognized, 
but  only  one  of  them,  represented  by  a  single  species,  occurs  within 
our  limits. 

Dental  formula:  I. >  C. >  M.  - — -**  16. 

i-i         o-o          3-3 

Subgenus  NEOTOMA  Say  &  Ord. 

Tail  covered  with  hair  but  not  bushy;  "maxillary  toothrow  much 
narrower  posteriorly  than  anteriorly;  middle  lobe  of  last  upper  molar 
not  divided  by  inner  re-entrant  angle"  (Goldman). 

Neotoma  floridana  illinoensis  HOWELL. 
ILLINOIS  WOOD  RAT. 

Neotoma  floridana  illinoensis  HOWELL,  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XXIII,  1910,  p.  28 
(Union  Co.,  southern  Illinois).  GOLDMAN,  N.  Amer.  Fauna,  No.  31,  1910,  p. 
23  (southern  Illinois  to  northeastern  Kansas). 

Type  locality  —  Wolf  Lake,  Union  County,  southern  Illinois. 
Distribution  —  Southern  Illinois  to  northeastern  Arkansas ;  limits  of 

range  not  definitely  known. 
Special  characters  —  Cranial  characters  resembling  floridana,  but  with 

zygomata  more  abruptly  spreading  and  with  posterior  border  of 

palate  emarginate;  approaches  N.  f.  rubida  in  size  but  general  color 

grayer  and  tail  more  distinctly  bicolor. 


FEB.,  1912.    MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        20,- 


Illinois  Wood  Rat  (Neotoma  floridana  illinoensis) .. 

Description  —  Upper  parts  yellowish  brown  mixed  with  blackish  hairs, 
darkest  on  crown;  concealed  portion  of  fur  on  upper  parts  dusky 
plumbeous;  sides  of  body  tawny  brown  or  brownish  buff;  face  and 
outer  side  of  legs  grayish;  under  parts  white;  feet  white;  tail  dusky 
brown  above,  paler  beneath. 

Measurements  —  Total  length,  about  15.50  in.  (393  mm.);  tail  verte- 
bras, 7.50  in.  (190  mm.);  hind  foot,  1.50  in.  (38  mm.);  ear,  i  in. 
(25mm.). 

Average  measurements  of  6  topotypes  in  Field  Museum  col- 
lection:—  Total  length,  377  (363-396);  tail  vertebras,  176  (167-190); 
hind  foot,  38  (37-40). 

Average  measurements  of  8  adults  from  the  type  locality  as 
given  by  Howell  in  his  original  description — "Total  length,  430 
(390-435) ;  tail  vertebrae,  195  (187-205) ;  hind  foot,  38  (36-40)." 


2o6    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 


Map  illustrating  approximate  distribution  of  Wood  Rats  (Neotoma)  in  eastern  United  States. 


Neotoma  pennsylvanica*  STONE.  (Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  1893,  p.  16.)  Type 
locality  —  South  Mountain,  Cumberland  Co.,  Pennsylvania.  Total  length 
about  16.50  in.  (418  mm.);  ears  large;  color  dull  brownish  plumbeous,  above 
mixed  with  black  hairs;  feet  and  under  parts  white;  tail  bicolor,  above  brown, 
under  surface  white;  first  upper  molar  with  anterior  inner  notch  or  angle,  deep, 
extending  more  than  half  way  across  the  lobe. 

Neotoma  floridana  (ORD).  (Bull.  Soc.  Philom.  Paris,  1818,  p.  181.)  Type  locality — 
St.  John's  River,  Florida.  Smaller  than  pennsylvanica  and  more  plumbeous, 
tail  less  thickly  haired;  skull  slighter;  first  upper  molar  with  anterior  inner 
notch  or  angle,  shallow,  extending  less  than  half  way  across  the  lobe. 

Neotoma  /.  attwateri  (MEARNS).  (Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  XIX,  1897,  p.  721.)  Type 
locality  —  Lacey's  Ranch,  Turtle  Creek,  Kerr  Co.,  Texas.  Similar  to  floridana 
but  pelage  longer  and  grayer  in  summer;  tail  less  than  6^i  in.  (175  mm.). 

*  Neotoma  magister  BAIRD,  described  from  lower  jaws  found  in  Pleistocene  cave 
deposits  near  Carlisle,  Pennsylvania  (Baird,  Mammals  N.  Amer.,  1857,  p.  498),  is 
regarded  by  Goldman  as  distinct  from  N.  pennsylvanica  (N.  Amer.  Fauna,  No.  31, 
1910,  p.  83). 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        207 

Neotoma  /.  rubida  BANGS.  (Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  XXVIII,  1898,  p.  185.) 
Type  locality  —  Gibson,  Terrebonne  Parish,  Louisiana.  Larger  than  floridana, 
with  larger  hind  feet;  color  of  upper  parts  tinged  with  dark  russet  brown;  tail 
not  distinctly  bicolor,  dusky  above,  slightly  paler  beneath. 

Neotoma  f.  illinoensis  HOWELL.  Type  locality  —  Wolf  Lake,  Union  Co.,  southern 
Illinois.  Description  as  previously  given.  Differs  from  rubida  in  being  some- 
what lighter  in  color  and  tail  more  distinctly  bicolor. 

The  Illinois  Wood  Rat  was  lately  described  by  Mr.  Arthur  H.  How- 
ell,  who  first  secured  specimens  near  Wolf  Lake,  Union  Co.,  southern 
Illinois,  in  May,  1909.  By  those  unfamiliar  with  mammals  it  might 
be  mistaken  for  a  large  House  Rat,  but  it  may  readily  be  distinguished 
from  that  species  (aside  from  its  well-marked  dental  characters)  by 
its  hair  covered  tail,  large  ears,  pure  white  under  parts  and  white  feet. 

Regarding  the  habits  of  this  Wood  Rat,  Mr.  Howell  says:  "The 
animals  are  common  at  Wolf  Lake,  inhabiting  the  high  rocky  bluffs 
which  border  the  east  side  of  the  lake.  They  live  in  crevices  and  caves 
into  which  they  carry  large  quantities  of  sticks,  leaves,  and  other 
rubbish.  Their  habits  in  this  locality  are  thus  like  those  of  N.  pennsyl- 
vanica  and  unlike  those  of  rubida  in  the  Southern  States  where  this 
species  lives  in  swamps  and  builds  its  nests  in  hollow  logs  or  trees  and 
in  the  branches  of  trees  some  distance  from  the  ground.  The  swamp 
conditions  were  present  at  this  northern  station,  but  the  adjacent  cliffs 
evidently  proved  more  attractive  to  them,  as  is  usually  the  case  with 
members  of  this  genus.  Three  adults  and  one  young,  all  in  worn  pelage, 
were  captured  at  Wolf  Lake,  May  24,  25,  and  in  January,  1910,  eight 
more  adults  in  full  fresh  pelage  were  secured  by  a  local  trapper."  (/. c., 
p.  28-29.) 

Specimens  of  this  Rat  have  also  been  taken  in  northeastern  Arkan- 
sas (Goldman,  /.  c.,  p.  23). 

The  specimen  identified  by  Mr.  F.  E.  Wood  as  Neotoma  floridana 
from  Havana,  Illinois  (Bull.  111.  State  Lab.  Nat.  Hist.,  VIII,  1910,  p. 
550),  and  preserved  in  the  collection  of  the  Illinois  State  University  at 
Urbana,  was  kindly  sent  to  me  by  Dr.  S.  A.  Forbes  for  examination. 
It  is  an  alcoholic  specimen  and  proves  to  be  a  small  female  Epimys 
norvegicus,  somewhat  abnormal  in  color,  probably  due  to  its  having 
been  kept  in  alcohol  for  a  considerable  time. 

Specimens  examined  from  Illinois: 
Illinois  —  Wolf  Lake,  Union  Co.,  6;  (B.  S.)  Wolf  Lake,  Union  Co., 

2  =  8. 


208     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 


Subfamily  MICROTIN^. 

A  subfamily  confined  to  the  northern  portions  of  the  old  and  new 
worlds.     The  crowns  of  molars  show  irregular  enamel  loops  or  triangles. 


Genus  EVOTOMYS  Coues. 

Evotomys  Coues,  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  1874,  p.  186.     Type 

Mus  rutilus  Pallas. 

Skull  narrow  and  slender;  front  teeth  (incisors)  without  grooves; 
molars  with  pronged  roots;  crowns  of  molars  with  irregular  triangles; 
tail  comparatively  short;  middle  of  back  (normally)  reddish  brown,  in 
decided  contrast  to  the  color  of  the  sides  of  body;  mammae  8. 

Dental  formula:  I.  -  — >  C.  — -»  Pm.  — -»  M.  ^— ^=  16. 
i-i        o-o  o-o         3-3 

Evotomys  gapperi  (VIGORS). 
RED-BACKED  MOUSE.     RED-BACKED  VOLE. 

Arvicola  gapperi  VIGORS,  Zool.  Jour.,  V,  1830,  p.  204.     KENNICOTT,  Agr.  Rept. 

for  1857,  U.  S.  Patent  Office  Rept.,  1858,  p.  88  (Wisconsin,  Minnesota).     STRONG, 

Geol.  Wis.,  Surv.  1873-79,  I,  1883,  p.  439  (Wisconsin). 
Hypudaus  rutilus  var.  gapperi  HERRICK,  Geol.  &  Nat.  Hist.  Surv.  Minn.,  Bull. 

No.  7,  1892,  p.  194  (Minnesota). 
Evotomys  gapperi  BAILEY,  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XI,  1897,  p.  122  (Minnesota, 

Ontario,  etc.).     SNYDER,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  II,  1902,  p.  116  (Dodge  Co., 

Wisconsin).     JACKSON,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  VI,  1908,  p.  22  (Wisconsin). 

Type  locality  —  Vicinity  of  Lake  Simcoe,  Ontario. 

Distribution  —  The  Atlantic  states  from  Pennsylvania  northward  and 
west  along  the  northern  border  of  the  United  States  to  Minnesota 
and  in  Canada  to  the  Rocky  Mountains. 

Special  characters  —  A  broad  rufous  chestnut  stripe  on  middle  of  back 
extending  from  the  crown  to  the  rump;  sides  of  body  grayish  buff, 
sometimes  with  a  slight  olive  tinge  but  always  strikingly  different 
from  the  color  of  the  back;  tail  comparatively  short. 

Description  —  Normal  phase:  A  broad  stripe  of  rufous  chestnut  from 
the  back  of  the  head  extends  down  middle  of  the  back  to  the  rump ; 
sides  of  body  and  fore  part  of  head  and  face  grayish  buff,  sometimes 
faintly  tinged  with  olive;  a  dusky  mark  at  base  of  the  whiskers; 
under  parts  ashy  or  whitish,  often  faintly  tinged  with  buff;  the  bases 


FEB.,  1912.    MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        209 

of  the  hairs  on  the  under  parts  are  dark  plumbeous  and  the  tips 
white  or  buffy  white,  the  dark  parts  being  nearly  or  quite  concealed, 
but  occasionally  the  under  fur  shows  through,  giving  a  gray  tinge 
to  the  under  parts;  adults  often  have  a  patch  of  pale,  sometimes 
whitish,  fur  surrounding  the  gland  on  the  flank. 

Dark  phase:  Occasionally  specimens  representing  a  dichromatic 
or  dark  phase  of  pelage  are  taken ;  the  reddish  brown  back  is  replaced 
by  dusky  and  the  general  coloration  is  darker  and  grayer.  In  the 
large  number  of  specimens  examined  I  have  seen  only  one  in  this 
pelage  from  Wisconsin. 

Measurements — (12  adult  specimens  from  northern  Wisconsin.) 
Total  length,  5.10  to  6  in.  (130  to  154  mm.);  tail  vertebrae,  about 
1.37  in.  (30  to  41  mm.) ;  hind  foot,  about  .73  in.  (18  to  20  mm.). 

Remarks  —  The  Museum  series  contains  25  apparently  not  fully  adult 
specimens  which  are  small,  several  having  a  total  length  of  118  to 
125  mm.,  and  are  very  similar  in  size  and  coloration  to  specimens 
of  E,  g.  loringi  from  Dakota.  Other  specimens  from  the  same 
locality,  however,  are  of  normal  size.  There  is  considerable  varia- 
tion in  size  of  the  adults  of  this  species,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  follow- 
ing measurements  of  12  selected  specimens  from  different  localities 
in  northern  Wisconsin. 

Total  Length.  TaU  Vertebrae.  Hind  Foot. 

Spread  Eagle,  Florence  Co. ...  o71  14701111.  41  mm.  19     mm. 

Spread  Eagle,  Florence  Co. ...  cf  144  '  39  '  19 

Conover,  Vilas  Co d"  152  "  38  "  19       " 

Conover,  Vilas  Co o*  130  '  32  '  18.5    ' 

Conover,  Vilas  Co 9  139  '  32  '  18.5    ' 

Lac  Vieux  Desert,  Vilas  Co. ..  d"  154  '  38  '  20 
Lac  Vieux  Desert,  Vilas  Co ...  c?  135  '  32  18 
Lac  Vieux  Desert,  Vilas  Co. ..  9  153  39  '  J9 
Lac  Vieux  Desert,  Vilas  Co. ..  9  142  '  34  '  18 
Lac  Vieux  Desert,  Vilas  Co. ..  9  134  '  3°  '  18 
Upper  St.  Croix  Lake,  Doug- 
las Co <?  137  "  32  "  18  " 

Upper  St.  Croix  Lake,  Doug- 
las Co 9  149  "  38  "  18.5    " 

The  Red-backed  Mouse  is  a  woodland  species,  frequenting  low 
ground  in  heavy  timber,  sphagnum  bogs  and  banks  of  streams,  although 
like  many  other  species  of  similar  habitat,  it  occasionally  resorts  to 
fields  and  pastures  bordering  the  woods.  It  is  more  diurnal  in  its 
habits  than  others  of  our  Mice  and  is  not  uncommonly  to  be  seen  run- 
ning about  in  the  day  time. 

It  is  found  in  favorable  localities  throughout  the  greater  part  of 
Wisconsin  except,  perhaps,  in  some  of  the  extreme  southern  and  south- 


210    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 


Red-backed  Mouse  (Evotomys  gapperi). 

western  counties.  Mr.  Snyder  has  a  specimen  in  his  collection  from 
Dodge  Co.,  and  there  is  a  specimen  in  the  collection  of  Dr.  H.  V.  Ogden, 
taken  at  Oak  Creek,  Milwaukee  Co.,  but  according  to  Jackson,  in  the 
interior  of  the  state  it  is  rarely  found  south  of  Columbia  Co.  (1.  c.,  p. 
22.)  It  has  not  been  recorded  from  Illinois. 

Regarding  the  habits  of  this  species  Dr.  C.  Hart  Merriam  writes: 
"The  Wood  Mouse  is  terrestrial,  like  the  other  members  of  the  Arm- 
coline  series,  and  commonly  lives  in  burrows  in  the  ground.  It  some- 
times makes  regular  runways  similar  to  those  of  the  field  mouse,  but 
usually  travels  freely  over  the  surface,  not  confining  itself  to  any  pre- 
scribed course.  It  is  both  diurnal  and  nocturnal.  I  have  shot  it  at 
noonday,  scampering  over  the  leaves  in  the  deep  woods,  and  dodging 
in  and  out  between  the  rocks  of  a  lake  shore.  I  have  also  seen  it  after 
dark  in  shanties  and  in  log-houses;  and  have  caught  many  during  the 
night  in  traps  baited  with  beech  nuts  and  meat.  Its  ordinary  gait  is 
a  moderately  fast  trot;  I  have  never  seen  it  proceed  in  leaps.  Still,  it 
runs  swiftly  for  a  short  distance  and  its  quick  movements  render  it 
difficult  to  capture. 

"The  nest  of  the  Red-backed  Mouse  is  usually,  in  this  region, 
placed  in  a  burrow  in  the  earth,  though  it  is  sometimes  found  in  a  half 
decayed  log,  or  under  the  roots  of  a  stump.  I  have  shot  females,  each 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        211 

containing  four  young,  as  early  as  the  3rd  of  April,  and  as  late  as  the 
4th  of  October.  I  have  also  taken  a  female  early  in  June  that  was 
nursing  her  second  brood.  Hence  it  is  clear  that  several  litters  are 
produced  in  a  season. 

"The  flesh  of  the  Red-backed  Mouse  is  tender  and  well  flavored."* 
Kennicott  in  describing  the  habits  of  this  mouse  says:  "I  captured 
a  number  of  this  species,  which,  with  several  deer-mice  (Hesperomys 
leucopus)  came  into  a  shanty  to  feed  upon  some  rice  which  lay  in  bags  on 
the  floor.  These  Arvicolae  never  having  been  injured,  were  quite  tame, 
and  ran  about  the  room  without  much  regard  for  the  presence  of  the 
occupants.  In  feeding,  they  sat  upon  the  hind  feet  and  haunches,  in 
the  manner  of  the  Arvicola  austerus,  holding  the  grains  of  rice  with 
the  fore-paw,  and  sometimes  grasping  a  grain  in  one  paw  only.  . 
In  climbing,  they  surpassed  all  other  meadow-mice,  running  up  the 
corners  of  the  shanty  to  the  roof,  and  over  the  rough  logs  as  if  perfectly 
at  ease.  In  the  woods,  too,  I  found  a  nest  in  the  rotten  stub  of  a  tree, 
several  feet  from  the  ground.  They  never  moved  by  leaps,  but  trotted 
with  graceful  gliding  movement,  like  the  Arvicola  austerus.  I  was 
particularly  struck  by  their  diurnal  habits.  ...  I  sought  in  vain 
for  any  indications  of  regular  pathways  under  the  leaves  or  grass,  like 
those  of  our  other  species,  and  was  finally  induced  to  believe  that  it 
constructed  none. 

"I  found  a  number  of  the  nests  of  the  red-backed  meadow-mice, 
and,  with  the  exception  of  one  placed  in  a  stump,  they  were  all  situated 
on  the  top  of  the  ground,  under  logs.  They  were  slightly  formed  of  a 
small  quantity  of  soft  leaves  and  grass.  .  .  .  The  Arvicola  Gapperi 
is,  apparently,  very  prolific.  I  found  eight  young  in  a  nest  and  within 
several  rods  of  this  a  family  of  five  or  six,  probably  a  month  or  two  older, 
and  which  I  concluded  to  be  an  earlier  litter  of  the  same  parent." 
(/.  c.,  pp.  89-90.) 

Specimens  examined  from  Wisconsin: 

Wisconsin  —  Solon  Springs,  Douglas  Co.,  25;  Sayner,  Vilas  Co.,  10; 
Conover,  Vilas  Co.,  5;  Lac  Vieux  Desert,  Vilas  Co.,  7;  Spread 
Eagle,  Florence  Co.,  4;  (M.  P.  M.)  Burnett  Co.,  4;  Douglas 
Co.,  2;  Marinette  Co.,  2;  Vilas  Co.,  2;  (O.  C.)  Fisher  Lake, 
Iron  Co.,  13;  Oak  Creek,  Milwaukee  Co.,  i;  (S.  C.)  Beaver  Dam, 
Dodge  Co.,  15=76. 

*  Mamm.  Adirondack  Reg.,  1886,  p.  271-72. 


212     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 


Map  illustrating  approximate  distribution  of  Red-backed  Mice  or  Red-backed  Voles  (.Evotomys) 
in  eastern  United  States. 


Evotomys  gapperi  (VIGORS).  Type  locality  —  Vicinity  of  Lake  Simcoe,  Ontario. 
Description  as  previously  given. 

Evotomys  g.  loringi  BAILEY.  (Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XI,  1897,  p.  125.)  Type 
locality  —  Portland,  Traill  County,  North  Dakota.  Smaller  and  somewhat 
brighter  colored  than  gapperi  and  with  smaller  skull. 

Evotomys  g.  ochraceus  MILLER.  (Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  XXVI,  1894,  p.  193.) 
Type  locality  —  Mt.  Washington,  Coos  Co.,  New  Hampshire.  Larger  and 
darker  than  gapperi. 

Evotomys  g.  rhoadsi  STONE.  (Amer.  Nat.,  XXVII,  1893,  p.  55.)  Type  locality — 
May's  Landing,  Atlantic  Co.,  New  Jersey.  About  the  size  of  gapperi,  but  darker 
and  with  shorter  tail. 

Evotomys  proteus   BAILEY.      (Proc.   Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,   XI,  1897,  p.    137.)     Type 
.  locality — Hamilton  Inlet,  Labrador.     Largest  of  our  northeastern  forms. 

Evotomys  carolinensis  MERRIAM.  (Amer.  Jour.  Sci.,  3rd  ser.,  XXXVI,  1888,  p.  460.) 
Type  locality  —  Roan  Mountain,  Mitchell  Co.,  North  Carolina  (altitude  6,000 
ft.).  Dorsal  stripe  dark  chestnut  and  not  sharply  defined,  shading  into  color 
of  sides. 


FEB.,  1912.    MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        213 


Genus  MICROTUS  Schrank. 

Microtus  Schrank,  Fauna  Boica,  I,  1798,  p.  72.     Type  Microtus  lerrestris 

Schrank  =  M  us  arvalis  Pallas  (by  elimination) . 

Form  thick  set;  tail  short;  ears  short;  lower  incisors  extending  in 
jaw  back  of  molars;  molars  without  pronged  roots;  crowns  of  molars 
with  irregular  triangles  or  loops;  plantar  tubercles  (wart-like  excre- 
scences on  sole  of  foot)  4  to  6. 

Dental  formula:  I. >  C. >  Pm. 


i-i 


o-o 


o-o 


3~3 


Three   recognized   subgenera   are  represented  within   our  limits, 
which  may  be  characterized  as  follows  in  our  species: 


A.  Plantar  tubercles  6. 

Crown  of  third  upper  molar  with  five  or 
more  irregular  loops,  the  middle  ones 
forming  three  closed  triangles;  mammae  8 
in  our  species,  4  pectoral  and  4  inguinal. 

Subgenus  MICROTUS,  p.  214. 


Crowns  of  upper  molars  and  sole  of  foot. 


Plantar  tubercles  5. 

Crown  of  third  upper  molar  with  4  irregular 
loops,  the  middle  ones  forming  two  closed 
triangles;  mammae  6,  4  inguinal,  2  pec- 
toral; skull  narrow  and  high. 

Subgenus  PEDOMYS,  p.2i8. 

Crown  of  third  upper  molar  with  4  irregular 
loops,  the  middle  ones  forming  two  closed 
triangles;  mammae  4,  inguinal;  skull  flat 
and  wide.  Subgenus  PITYMYS,  p.  222. 


FIELD  KEY  TO   OUR  SPECIES. 

A.  Total  length  more  than  5.50  inches;  tail  more  than  l.io  inches  long. 

Upper  parts  more  or  less  grizzly  brown;  under  parts  buffy  gray  or  pale  brownish 
gray;  tail  usually  less  than  1.60  inches  long;  plantar  tubercles  5;  mammae 
6.  PRAIRIE  MEADOW  MOUSE  OR  VOLE. 

Microtus  ochrogaster,  p.  218. 

Upper  parts  brown,  but  lacking  the  "grizzly"  appearence  of  M.  ochrogaster; 
under  parts  slaty  plumbeous,  often  with  a  slight  wash  of  cinnamon;  tail 
usually  more  than  1.60  inches  long;  plantar  tubercles  6;  mammae  8  (in 
our  species).  MEADOW  MOUSE  or  VOLE. 

Microtus  pennsylvanicus,  p.  214. 


214    FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

B.  Total  length  less  than  5.50  inches;  tail  I  inch  or  less  long. 

Upper  parts  dark  chestnut  brown;  under  parts  plumbeous  gray,  more  or  less 
tinged  with  buff;  fur  soft,  suggesting  that  of  a  mole;  plantar  tubercles  5; 
mammae  4;  claws  on  fore  feet  longest. 

MOLE  MOUSE  or  MOLE-LIKE  VOLE. 
Microtus  pinetorum  scalopsoides ,  p.  222. 

Subgenus  MICROTUS  Schrank. 

Plantar  tubercles  6;  crown  of  third  upper  molar  with  5  or  more 
irregular  loops,  the  middle  ones  forming  three  closed  triangles ;  mammae 
8  in  our  species,  4  pectoral  and  4  inguinal. 

Microtus  pennsylvanicus  (ORD). 
MEADOW  MOUSE.     MEADOW  VOLE. 

Mus  pennsylvanica  ORD,  Guthrie's  Geography,  2nd  Amer.  ed.,  II,  1815,  p.  292. 

Arvicola  riparius,  LAPHAM,  Trans.  Wis.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  II,  1852  (1853),  p.  340 
(Wisconsin).  KENNICOTT,  Trans.  111.  State  Agr.,  Soc.,  I,  1853-54  (1855),  p. 
579  (Cook  Co.,  Illinois).  Ib.,  Agr.  Rept.  for  1856,  U.  S.  Patent  Office  Rept., 
1857,  p.  104  (Illinois).  MILES,  Rept.  Geol.  Surv.  Mich.,  1860  (1861),  p.  221 
(Michigan).  ALLEN,  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  XIII,  1869.  (1871),  p.  193 
(Iowa).  COUES,  Monog.  N.  Amer.  Rodentia,  1877,  p.  165  (Illinois,  Wisconsin, 
Missouri,  etc.).  OSBORN,  Proc.  Iowa  Acad.  Sci.  I,  1887-89  (1890),  p.  43  (Iowa). 
STRONG,  Geol.  Wis.,  Surv.  1873-79,  I,  1883,  p.  439  (Wisconsin). 

Microtus  pennsylvanicus  RHOADS,  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  1896  (1897),  p.  185 
(Tennessee).  BAILEY,  N.  Amer.  Fauna,  No.  17,  1900,  p.  16  (Michigan,  Illinois, 
Wisconsin,  Missouri,  Iowa,  Minnesota,  etc.).  SNYDER,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist. 
Soc.,  II,  1902,  p.  117  (Wisconsin).  HAHN,  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  XXXII, 
1907,  p.  459  (Kankakee  Valley,  Indiana).  LANTZ,  U.  S.  Dept.  Agr.,  Biol.  Surv., 
Bull.  No.  31,  1907,  p.  15.  McAxEE,  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XX,  1907,  p.  5 
(Munroe  Co.,  Indiana).  JACKSON,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  VI,  1908,  p.  22 
(Wisconsin).  HAHN,  Ann.  Rept.  Dept.  Geol.  &  Nat.  Resources  Ind.,  1908 
(1909),  p.  506  (Indiana).  HOWELL,  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XXIII,  1910,  p.  29 
(Kentucky). 

Type  locality  —  Meadows  below  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania. 

Distribution  —  Northeastern  United  States,  from  northern  border  of 
Quebec  and  Ontario  to  Virginia  and  in  the  mountains  of  North 
Carolina  and  Tennessee  west  to  Nebraska,  Minnesota  and  South 
Dakota.  Occurs  throughout  about  the  northern  two-thirds  of 
Illinois  and  the  whole  of  Wisconsin. 

Description  —  Upper  parts  dark  chestnut  brown,  at  times  ochraceous 
chestnut;  the  fur  on  back  mixed  with  blackish  hairs;  sides  of  body 
lighter  than  back;  under  parts  slaty  plumbeous,  occasionally  with 
a  slight  wash  of  pale  cinnamon  brown;  feet  brownish;  tail  dark 
above,  somewhat  paler  below;  other  characters  as  given  for  the 
subgenus. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        215 

Measurements  —  Total  length,  about  6.50  in.  (150  to  180  mm.);  tail 

vertebrae,  about  1.75  in.  (45  mm.);  hind  foot,  .88  in.  (22  mm.). 
Habitat  —  Fields,  meadows  and  swamps. 

The  Meadow  Mouse  is  common  throughout  northern  Illinois  and 
Wisconsin  in  low  meadows,  marshes,  and  wooded  swamps;  but  it  is 
also  found  in  dry  pastures  and  corn  fields,  especially  in  the  autumn. 
Its  exact  southern  range  in  Illinois  has  not  been  definitely  determined 
but  it  probably  does  not  extend  much  beyond  the  south  central  portion 
of  the  state.  Wood  records  it  from  McLean  Co.,  Illinois  (7.  c.,  p.  551). 
Coues  mentions  specimens  from  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  and  Hahn,  from 
Munroe  and  Ohio  counties,  Indiana,  which  are  the  most  southern 
records  in  the  western  portion  of  its  range  that  I  have  been  able  to  find. 
This  Mouse  is  not  uncommonly  seen  running  about  in  the  daytime 
and  it  is  more  diurnal  in  its  habits  than  most  of  its  kind.  Two  or  three 
litters  are  born  in  a  season  and  the  young  number  from  5  to  8,  generally 
5  or  6.  The  nest  is  usually  in  burrows  in  tussocks  of  grass  above  the 
damp  ground  and  is  constructed  of  grass  and  pieces  of  weeds,  the  in- 
terior being  lined  with  some  soft  substance,  such  as  the  pappus  of  milk- 
weed or  cat-o'-nine-tails.  The  entrance  is  a  hole  on  one  side  near  the 


Meadow  Mouse  or  Meadow  Vole  (Microtus  pennsylvanicus) . 


216     FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

bottom.  In  summer  its  food  mainly  consists  of  the  roots  of  grass  and 
weeds.  Lantz  states  (7.  c.,  p.  17)  that  it  is  very  fond  of  the  roots  of 
the  wild,  white  morning-glory  (Convolvulus  septum) .  In  fall  and  winter 
it  eats  seeds,  grain  and  the  bark  of  trees,  and  it  often  does  considerable 
injury  to  fruit  orchards.  I  have  often  seen  them  sit  up  on  their  haunches 
and  eat  their  food,  holding  it  in  their  fore  paws  after  the  manner  of  a 
Squirrel.  They  do  not  hibernate  in  winter  but  pass  most  of  their  time 
in  runways  beneath  the  snow,  and  it  is  claimed  they  store  up  more  or 
less  food  for  use  during  the  cold  weather. 

Lantz  says,  "The  habit  of  storing  food  seems  to  be  less  common  in 
this  country  than  with  Old  World  species,  but  it  is  far  from  rare.  Caches 
of  food  are  often  found,  which  show  that  in  times  of  abundance  the 
animals  store  away  more  than  is  needed  for  immediate  use."  (I.  c., 
p.  14.) 

Dr.  C.  Hart  Merriam  in  describing  the  habits  of  this  species  says:* 
"  In  the  beginning  of  winter,  when  the  ground  is  frozen  for  some  distance 
below  the  surface,  it  abandons  its  burrows  and  lives  entirely  above 
ground.  Its  nests  of  dry  grass  then  lie  flat  upon  the  surface,  without 
attempt  at  concealment,  and  are  soon  buried  in  the  snow.  As  winter 
advances  and  the  snow  becomes  deeper,  the  Meadow  Mice  regularly 
betake  themselves  to  their  nests  for  rest.  The  heat  from  their  bodies 
soon  melts  the  snow  in  contact  with  and  immediately  adjoining  the 
nests,  which,  from  the  contmued  operation  of  the  same  cause,  come  to 
be  surrounded  by  slowly-growing,  dome-shaped  chambers.  These  in- 
crease in  size  until  the  spring  thaws,  in  March  and  April,  melt  away 
their  roofs,  thus  admitting  the  light  and  cold.  They  are  then  deserted. 
During  snow-shoe  tramps  over  fields  at  this  season  I  have  often  noticed 
holes,  from  a  few  inches  to  a  foot  in  diameter,  appearing  as  if  sharply 
cut  in  the  surface.  On  inspection,  they  invariably  proved  to  be  the 
summits,  of  these  dome-shaped  cavities,  and  a  nest  was  always  found 
at  the  bottom  of  each,  surrounded  by  a  zone  of  bare  ground.  They 
ranged  from  one  to  two  feet  (approximately  300  to  600  mm.)  in  diam- 
eter, and  most  of  them  were  two  feet  in  height.  From  the  bottom  of 
each  chamber  numerous  runways  and  burrows  penetrated  the  snow  in 
all  directions.  Some  followed  along  directly  upon  the  ground,  while 
others  sloped  upward  at  various  angles.  Many  ran  horizontally  at 
varying  levels,  resting  upon  the  dense  strata  that  indicated  the  surface 
lines  at  different  times  during  the  winter.  Near  each  nest  was  one  or 
more  burrows  that  reached  the  surface  and  contained  considerable 
accumulations  of  the  animal  dejections.  These  seemed  to  be  watch 
holes  where  the  Mice  came  regularly  to  look  at  the  prospect  outside." 

*  Mamm.  Adirondack  Reg.,  1886,  p.  272. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        217 


H/crofus  drummonai 

© 

Microtus  breweri 

© 

tflcrotus  nesophilus 

© 

M/irofus   shatlucki 

© 

*l;'cro(us  tcrraenovae 


Map  illustrating  approximate  range  of  the  Meadow  Mouse  (Microtus  pennsylvanicus) ,  together 
with  the  type  localities  of  the  species  and  subspecies  belonging  to  the  genus. 

Microtus   pennsylvanicus    (ORD).     Type   locality — Meadows   below    Philadelphia, 

Pennsylvania.     Description  as  previously  given. 
Microtus  p.  nigrans  RHOADS.     (Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  1896  (1897),  p.  307.) 

Type  locality  —  Currituck,  North  Carolina.     Slightly  larger  and  darker  than 

pennsylvanicus;  hind  feet  larger. 
Microtus  p.  acadicus  BANGS.     (Amer.  Nat.,  XXXI,  1897,  p.  239.)     Type  locality  — 

Digby,  Nova  Scotia.     Smaller  than  pennsylvanicus  and  somewhat  paler. 
Microtus  p.  fontigenus  (BANGS).     (Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  X,  1896,  p.  48.)     Type 

locality  —  Lake  Edward,   Quebec.     Smaller  than  pennsylvanicus,   with  skull 

shorter  and  wider;  bullae  large. 
Microtus  drummondi  (Auo.  &  BACH.).     (Quadrupeds  of  N.  Amer.,  Ill,  1854,  p.  166.) 

Type  locality  —  Vicinity  of  Jasper  House,  Alberta,  Canada.     Paler,  smaller 

and  more  slender  than  pennsylvanicus. 
Microtus  terranova  (BANGS).     (Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  IX,  1894,  p.  129.)     Type 

locality  —  Codroy,  Newfoundland.     Slightly  larger  than  pennsylvanicus,  with 

larger  hind  feet;  color  more  yellowish;  a  median  line  on  belly. 
Microtus  breweri  (BAIRD).     (Mammals  N.  Amer.,  1857,  p.  525.)     Type  locality  — 

Muskeget  Island,  Massachusetts.     Paler  and  grayer  than  pennsylvanicus;  size 

somewhat  larger. 
Microtus  nesophilus  BAILEY.    (Science,  N.  Ser.,  VIII,  1898,  p.  783.)    Type  locality  — 

Great  Gull  Island,  New  York.     Darker  than  pennsylvanicus;  skull  shorter  and 

wider. 
Microtus  shattucki  (HOWE).     (Proc.  Port.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  II,  1901,  p.  201.)     Type 

locality  —  Tumble  Down  Dick  Island,  Dark  Harbor,  Penobscot  Bay,  Maine. 

Similar  in  color  to  pennsylvanicus  but  larger. 


2i8     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

Specimens  examined  from  Illinois,  Wisconsin  and  adjoining  states: 
Illinois  —  Fox  Lake,  19;  Camp  Logan,  2;  Chicago,  2;  Galena,  4=27. 
Wisconsin  —  Sayner,  21;  Solon  Springs,  7;  Beaver  Dam,  69;  Spread 
Eagle,  4;  Conover,  2;  Lake  Koshkonong,  i;  (M.  P.  M.)  Pewaukee, 
3;  North  Milwaukee,  24;  Newport,  Door  Co.,  i;  Mouth  of  Yellow 
River,  5;  Prescott,  7;  Gordon,  Douglas  Co.,  i;  Nagawicka  Lake,  3; 
Kelley  Brook,  Oconto  Co.,  3;  Fountain  City,  i;  Maiden  Rock,  i; 
Prescott,  Pierce  Co.,  51;  Prairie  du  Sac,  Sauk  Co.,  21;  (0.  C.) 
Fisher  Lake,  Iron  Co.,  n;  Whitefish  Bay,  Milwaukee  Co.,  i;  Saxe- 
ville,  Waukesha  Co.,  i;  Milwaukee,  4=  242. 
Indiana  —  La  Porte,  4. 
Iowa  —  Knoxville,  2;  Luxemburg,  3  =  5. 
Michigan  —  Dowagiac,  Cass  Co.,  5. 

Microtus  xanthognathus  (LEACH),  YELLOW-NOSED  VOLE,  was  re- 
corded by  Lapham  from  Wisconsin  (Trans.  Wis.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  II, 
1852  (1853),  p.  340),  but  the  record  was  based  on  Hoy's  notes  and  is 
undoubtedly  an  error.  The  known  range  of  this  species  extends  from 
Alberta,  Canada,  north  and  west  to  the  Arctic  coast  and  Alaska. 

Subgenus  PEDOMYS  Baird. 

Plantar  tubercles  5 ;  crown  of  third  upper  molar  showing  4  irregu- 
lar loops,  the  middle  ones  forming  2  closed  triangles;  mammae  6,  4 
inguinal  and  2  pectoral;  skull  narrow  and  high.  For  illustrations  of 
teeth  and  foot,  see  page  213. 

Microtus  ochrogaster  (WAGNER). 
PRAIRIE  MEADOW  MOUSE.     PRAIRIE  VOLE. 

H[ypudceus]  ochrogaster  WAGNER,  Schreber's  Saugthiere,  Suppl.,  Ill,  1843,  p.  592. 

Arvicola  hirsutus  LAPHAM,  Trans.  Wis.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  II,  1852  (1853),  p.  340  (Wis- 
consin). 

Arvicola  austerus  KENNICOTT,  Agr.  Rept.  for  1856,  U.  S.  Patent  Office  Rept.,  1857, 
p.  97  (Illinois).  COUES,  Monog.  N.  Amer.  Rodentia,  1877,  p.  213  (Illinois,  Wiscon- 
sin, Missouri,  etc.).  STRONG,  Geol.  Wis.,  Surv.  1873-79, 1»  ^83,  p.  439  (Wiscon- 
sin). EVERMANN  &  BUTLER,  Proc.  Ind.  Acad.  Sci.,  1893  (1894),  p.  127  (Indiana). 

Microtus  austerus  BAILEY,  N.  Amer.  Fauna,  No.  17,  1900,  p.  73  (Wisconsin,  Illinois, 
Indiana,  Iowa,  Missouri,  etc.).  SNYDER,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  II,  1902, 
p.  1 18  (Wisconsin).  McATEE,  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XX,  1907,  p.  6  (Indiana). 
VAN  HYNING  &  PELLETT,  Proc.  Iowa  Acad.  Sci.,  XVII,  1910,  p.  213  (Iowa). 

Microtus  (Pedomys)  ochrogaster  ALLEN,  Bull.  Amer.  Mus.  Nat.  Hist.,  X,  1898,  p.  459. 

Microtus  ochrogaster  OSGOOD,  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XX,  1907,  p.  48.  JACKSON, 
Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  VI,  1908,  p.  23  (Wisconsin).  JACKSON,  Proc.  Biol. 
Soc.  Wash.,  XX,  1907,  p.  73  (S.  W.  Missouri).  HAHN,  Ann.  Rept.  Dept.  Geol. 
&  Nat.  Resources  Ind.,  1908  (1909),  p.  509  (Indiana).  HOWELL,  Proc.  Biol. 
Soc.  Wash.,  XXIII,  1910,  p.  29  (Illinois,  Missouri). 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        219 

Type  locality  —  Uncertain,  probably  Mississippi  Valley.* 
Distribution  —  From,  southern  Wisconsin  southward  nearly  throughout 

Iowa,  Illinois,  Indiana,  Missouri,  eastern  Nebraska  and  Kansas, 

to  northeastern  Oklahoma. 
Special  characters  —  This  species  may  be  distinguished  from  M .  penn- 

sylvanicus  by  its  "grizzly"  upper  parts  and  different  color  of  belly; 

also  characters  previously  given  for  the  subgenus. 
Description  —  Upper  parts  having  a  grizzly  appearance  of  mixed  light 

and  dark  brown;  sides  of  body  paler;  under  parts  buffy  gray  or  pale 

brownish  gray;  feet  brown;  upper  surface  of  tail  dark,  under  surface 

pale;  more  or  less  dusky  or  blackish  about  the  nose;  plantar  tuber- 

cules  5. 
Measurements  —  Total  length,  about  6  in.  (152  mm.);  tail  vertebrae, 

about  1.30  in.  (35  mm.);  hind  foot,  .80  in.  (20  mm.). 
Habitat  —  High  prairie  land  and  dry  fields ;  common  in  hazel  thickets . 

The  Prairie  Meadow  Mouse  is  common  throughout  Illinois  and  more 
or  less  so  in  southern  Wisconsin.  I  have  seen  no  specimens  from  Wis- 
consin, but  there  are  several  in  the  Field  Museum  collection  from  ex- 
treme northern  counties  in  Illinois  (Jo  Daviess  and  Lake).  Jackson 
considers  it  locally  common  in  Wisconsin  in  the  extreme  southern  and 
western  counties.  Snyder  records  it  from  Beaver  Dam,  Dodge  Co., 
and  Bailey  from  Racine.  Strong  gives  it  as  "quite  abundant  in  the 
prairie  regions  of  southern  and  central  (sic)  Wisconsin"  (/.  c.,  p.  439). 

Unlike  the  common  Meadow  Mouse  this  species  prefers  the  dry 
fields  and  overgrown  pastures  and  it  is  commonly  found  in  culti- 
vated clover  and  alfalfa  fields.  While  their  food  consists  principally 
of  roots  of  grasses  and  weeds,  they  eat  considerable  grain  and  in  late 
fall  and  winter  they  often  do  serious  damage  to  fruit  trees  by  attacking 
the  roots.  In  the,  fall  I  have  often  found  them  under  old  corn  shocks 
in  corn  fields.  The  nest  resembles  that  of  M.  pennsyhanicus,  but  is 
somewhat  smaller.  Several  litters  are  born  in  a  year  and  the  young 
usually  number  4  or  5,  rarely  6. 

Robert  Kennicott  gives  an  interesting  account  of  the  habits  of  this 
species  in  Illinois.  He  says :  "Their  winter  burrows  on  the  uncultivated 
prairie  are  often  in  old  ant-hills,  or,  if  not,  the  earth  thrown  out  of  them 
forms  little  hillocks.  They  are  not  very  deep,  seldom  over  six  inches 
or  a  foot,  but  are  remarkable  for  the  numerous  and  complicated  cham- 
bers and  side-passages  of  which  they  are  composed.  In  one  of  these 
chambers,  considerably  enlarged,  is  placed  the  nest,  formed  of  fine, 
dry  grass.  It  is  globular,  from  four  to  six  inches  in  diameter,  and  with 
but  a  small  cavity  in  the  centre,  which  is  entered  by  a  very  narrow 

*  See  Osgood,  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XX,  1907,  p.  48. 


220    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 


Prairie  Meadow  Mouse  or  Prairie  Vole  (Microius  ochrogaster) . 

opening  on  one  side.  This  burrow  and  nest  are  occupied  in  winter, 
and  in  it  at  least  the  first  litter  of  young  is  produced  in  the  spring;  but, 
in  the  summer  and  fall,  these  meadow-mice  may  be  found  in  similar 
nests  in  the  grass  above  ground,  in  which  the  young  are  often,  if  not 
usually,  brought  forth.  Nests  formed  under  the  snow  in  winter  are 
also  occupied  by  them.  From  the  burrows,  innumerable  runways 
traverse  the  neighborhood,  intersecting  those  from  other  burrows,  thus 
forming  a  complete  net-work  so  that  often  scarcely  a  square  yard  can 
be  found  in  an  acre  not  crossed  by  one  or  more  of  these  tracks.  The 
runways  of  one  pair  may  sometimes  be  traced  five  or  ten  rods  on  every 
side.  These  roads  are  not  only  formed  for  use  in  winter,  when  the 
ground  is  covered  with  snow,  but  are  also  employed  as  highways  in 
summer.  They  are  made  above  ground  by  pressing  down  and  gnawing 
off  the  grass,  and  the  earth  is  often  worn  quite  smooth  and  bare  in  those 
most  used.  The  inhabitants  can  travel  easily  along  them  at  all  times, 
in  search  of  food,  being  well  concealed  by  the  overarching  grass.  In 
winter,  these  paths  are  formed  on  the  ground,  under  the  snow,  as  well 
as  in  the  grass.  The  mice  do  not  inhabit  prairie  pastures,  where  the 
grass  is  eaten  close  and  affords  them  no  cover. 

"Upon  examining,  in  November,  the  burrow  of  a  pair  of  these 
meadow-mice,  situated  on  the  wild  prairie,  I  found  the  excavation  to 
have  been  recently  enlarged.  The  nest  was  placed  near  the  centre  of 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        221 


Microtus  minor 


Map  illustrating  approximate  distribution  of  the  Prairie  Meadow  Mouse  (Microtus  ochrogaster) 
and  allied  forms  belonging  to  the  subgenus  Pedomys. 


Microtus  ochrogaster  (WAGNER).  Type  locality — Uncertain — "Mississippi  Val- 
ley." Description  as  previously  given. 

Microtus  o.  ludovicianus  (BAILEY).  (N.  Amer.  Fauna,  No.  17,  1900,  p.  74.) 
Type  locality  —  Iowa,  Calcasieu  Parish,  Louisiana.  Very  slightly  different 
from  ochrogaster.  It  is  supposed  to  differ  in  having  audital  bullae  larger  and 
rostrum  and  nasals  more  slender. 

Microtus  minor  (MERRIAM).  (Amer.  Nat.,  XXII,  1888,  p.  600.)  Type  locality — 
Bottineau,  base  of  Turtle  Mountains,  North  Dakota.  Similar  in  coloration  to 
ochrogaster,  but  decidedly  smaller,  the  skull  smaller  and  narrower.  Total  length, 
about  5.25  in.  (133  mm.);  tail  vertebrae,  1.37  in.  (35  mm.);  hind  foot,  .63  in. 
(16  mm.).  Not  as  yet  recorded  from  within  our  limits,  but  might  be  looked 
for  in  northwestern  Wisconsin. 


222     FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

the  burrow;  and  at  one  side,  and  in  the  deepest  part  of  the  excavation, 
was  the  store  of  winter  provisions.  This  consisted  of  5  or  6  quarts  of 
roots,  chiefly  the  round  tubers  of  two  species  of  spike-flowers  (liatris), 
which  grow  abundantly  in  the  vicinity,  with  a  few  roots  of  helianthus, 
and  of  various  grasses,  and  several  bulbs  of  wild  onions."  (I.  c.,  pp. 
98-99.) 

Kennicott  also  states  that  in  confinement  they  were  practically 
omnivorous  and  very  pugnaceous ;  two  males  which  he  placed  in  a  cage 
fought  savagely  and  one  killed  and  partly  devoured  the  other.  Several 
others,  which  he  had  in  captivity,  ate  an  astonishing  amount  of  food, 
including  corn,  carrots,  fresh  meat  and  almost  anything  offered  them. 
He  also  says:  "They  drank  a  great  deal  of  water,  soon  perishing  when 
left  long  without  it,  or  some  moist  food."  (1.  c.,  p.  100.) 

Specimens  examined  from  Illinois  and  adjoining  states: 
Illinois  —  Golconda,  Pope  Co.,  7;  Rosiclare,  Hardin  Co.,  15;  Fox  Lake, 

Lake  Co.,  6;  Galena,  Jo  Daviess  Co.,  2;  Olive  Branch,  Alexander  Co., 

22;  Ozark,  Johnson  Co.,  i;  Reevesville,  Johnson  Co.,  2  =  56. 
Indiana  —  La  Porte,  2. 
Iowa  —  Knoxville,  3. 

Microtus  minor  MERRIAM,  LITTLE  MEADOW  MOUSE  OR  LITTLE 
VOLE.  It  is  not  unlikely  that  this  form  may  occur  in  northwestern 
Wisconsin,  as  it  has  been  recorded  from  eastern  Minnesota.  It  may 
be  distinguished  from  ochrogaster  by  its  small  size  and  smaller  and 
narrower  skull.  A  sixth  tubercle  on  hind  foot  is  usually  present, 
though  small.  The  Field  Museum  collection  contains  specimens  from 
Fort  Snelling,  Minnesota. 

Subgenus  PITYMYS  McMurtrie. 

Plantar  tubercles  5 ;  crown  of  third  upper  molar  showing  4  loops,  the 
middle  ones  forming  2  closed  triangles;  mammae  4,  inguinal;  skull  flat 
and  wide.  For  characters  distinguishing  other  subgenera,  see  page  213. 

Microtus  pinetorum  scalopsoides  (Auo.  &  BACH.). 
MOLE  MOUSE.     MOLE  PINE  MOUSE.     MOLE-LIKE  VOLE. 

Arvicola  scalopsoides  AUD.  &  BACH.,  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  I,  1841,  p.  97. 

KENNICOTT,  Agr.  Rept.  for  1856,  U.  S.  Patent  Office  Rept.,  1857,  p.  102. 
Arvicola  kennicotti  BAIRD,  Mammals  N.  Amer.,  1857,  p.  547  (Illinois). 
Arvicola  pinetorum  EVERMANN  &  BUTLER  (part),  Proc.  Ind.  Acad.  Sci.,  1893  (1894), 

p.  127  (Indiana). 
Microtus  pinetorum  scalopsoides  BAILEY,  N.  A.  Fauna,  No.  17,  1900,  p.  64  (Indiana, 

Illinois,  etc.).     LANTZ,  U.  S.  Dept.  Agr.,  Biol.  Surv.,  Bull.  No.  31,  1907,  p.  19. 

HAHN,  Ann.  Rept.  Dept.  Geol.  &  Nat.  Resources  Ind.,  1908  (1909),  p.  516 

(Indiana). 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        223 


Mole  Mouse  (Microtus  pinetorum  scalopsoides) . 

Type  locality  —  Long  Island,  New  York. 

Distribution  —  From  southern  New  York  to  North  Carolina  on  the 

Atlantic  coast  and  to  northern  Georgia  in  the  interior,  west  through 

part  of  Kentucky  and  the  greater  portion  of  Indiana  and  Illinois 

to  the  Mississippi  River. 
Special  characters  —  Total  length  less  than  5.50  inches;  tail  short,  less 

than  one  inch  long;  ears  small;  fur  soft,  suggesting  that  of  a  Mole; 

claws  on  front  feet  longest. 
Description  —  Upper  parts  dark  chestnut  brown,  paling  slightly  on 

sides;  under  parts  plumbeous  gray,  more  or  less  tinged  with  buff; 

tail  brown  above,  paler  beneath ;  feet  light  brown. 
Measurements  —  Total  length,  4.90  in.  (125  mm.);  tail  vertebrae,  .88 

in.  (22  mm.);  hind  foot,  .67  in.  (17  mm.). 

The  Mole  Mouse  or  Mole-like  Vole  is  an  inhabitant  of  the  woods,  but 
it  also  frequents  adjacent  overgrown  fields.  It  constructs  underground 
tunnels  just  beneath  the  surface,  which  are  marked  by  ridges  of  loose 
soil,  resembling  those  made  by  a  Mole  but  smaller.  The  nest  is  gen- 
erally built  on  the  ground  under  old  logs  or  piles  of  brush,  although  it 
is  sometimes  in  a  burrow  which  is  deeper  than  the  runways.  The 
young  are  usually  3  or  4  and  several  litters  are  born  in  a  season.  The 
food  consists  principally  of  roots,  both  of  wild  and  cultivated  plants, 


224    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 


Map  illustrating  approximate  distribution  of  Pine  Mice  belonging  to  the  subgenus  Pilymys. 


Microtus  pinetorum  (LECoNTE).  (Ann.  Lye.  Nat.  Hist.  N.  Y.,  Ill,  1830,  p.  133.) 
Type  locality  —  Pine  forests  of  Georgia.  General  color  cinnamon  or  russet 
brown;  belly  dusky,  more  or  less  tinged  with  russet  brown;  tail  short;  ears 
very  small.  Total  length,  about  4.50  inches;  tail  vertebrae,  .70  inch. 

Microtus  p.  scalopsoid.es  (Auo.  &  BACH.).  (Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  I,  1841,  p. 
97.)  Type  locality  —  Long  Island,  New  York.  Larger  and  darker  than  pine- 
torum. Description  as  previously  given. 

Microtus  p.  auricularis  BAILEY.  (Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XII,  1898,  p.  90.)  Type 
locality  —  Washington,  Adams  Co.,  Mississippi.  About  equal  in  size  to  pine- 
torum, but  color  approaching  scalopsoides;  fur  thick  and  dense. 

Microtus  nemoralis  (BAILEY).  (Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XII,  1898,  p.  89.)  Type 
locality  —  Stilwell  (Boston  Mountains),  Indian  Territory.  Largest  of  the 
subgenus  and  coloration  somewhat  lighter  than  scalopsoides. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        225 

and  it  often  does  considerable  damage  in  the  garden,  as  it  is  fond  of 
vegetables  such  as  carrots  and  potatoes.  In  localities  where  it  is  at 
all  common  it  is  destructive  to  fruit  trees.  Kennicott  states  that  while 
their  food  consists  largely  of  roots  of  grass  and  other  plants,  he  has 
found  acorns  and  hazel-nuts  in  their  burrows. 

The  exact  range  of  the  Mole  Mouse  in  Illinois  is  uncertain.  Bailey 
records  it  from  West  Northfield,  Cook  Co.,  and  from  Warsaw,  Hancock 
Co.  Kennicott  states  it  was  comrnon  in  northern  Illinois  and  southern 
Wisconsin,  but  the  latter  statement  at  least  is  questionable,  as  so  far 
as  I  am  aware  there  is  no  actual  record  of  its  having  been  taken  in 
Wisconsin.  Wood  failed  to  find  it  in  Champaign  Co.  and  doubts  that 
it  is  found  there.  The  most  northern  record  I  have  been  able  to  find 
of  its  occurrence  in  Indiana  is  that  given  by  Evermann  and  Butler  from 
Wabash  Co.*  (1.  c.,  p.  127.)  It  is  common,  however,  in  southern 
Illinois.  The  Field  Museum  collection  contains  specimens  from  John- 
son,-Alexander  and  Hardin  counties. 

Specimens  examined  from  Illinois: 
Illinois  —  Olive  Branch,  Alexander  Co.,  n;  Rosiclare,  Hardin  Co.,i; 

Reeves ville,  Johnson  Co.,  2=  14. 


Genus  FIBER  Cuvier. 

Fiber  Cuvier,  Tabl.  Elem.  de  Hist.  Nat.  des  Anim.,  1798,  p.  141.     (De- 
scribed in  1798,  but  not  named  until  1800)  Ib.,  Lecons  d'Anat. 
Comp.,  I,  1800,  tab  I.     Type  Castor  zibethicus  Linn. 
Body  short  and  thickly  furred;  tail  bare  and  vertically  compressed 

(width  decidedly  less  than  height);  toes  of  hind  feet  partly  webbed; 

molars  or  grinding  teeth  with  pronged  roots;  lower  incisors  with  roots 

on  outside  of  molars;  auditory  meatus  with  protruding  edge. 

Dental  formula:  I.  -  —  >  C.  — -»  Pm.  -  — »  M.  $—^  =  16. 
i-i        o-o  o-o         3-3 

Fiber  zibethicus  (LINN.). 

MUSKRAT. 

Castor  zibethicus  LINN/EUS,  Syst.  Nat.,  XII  ed.,  I,  1766,  p.  79. 

Fiber  zibethicus  LAPHAM,  Trans.  Wis.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  II,  1852  (1853),  p.  340  (Wis- 
consin). KENNICOTT,  Trans.  111.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  I,  1853-54  (1855),  p.  579 
(Cook  Co.,  Illinois).  Ib.,  Agr.  Rept.  for  1856,  U.  S.  Patent  Office  Kept.,  1857, 
p.  105  (Illinois).  MILES,  Rept.  Geol.  Surv.  Mich.,  I,  1860  (1861),  p.  221  (Mich- 

*  Given  as  pinetorum  by  Evermann  &  Butler,  but  which  I  assume  to  be  this 
race. 


226    FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 

igan).  ALLEN,  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  XIII,  1869  (1871),  p.  194  (Iowa). 
OSBORN,  Proc.  Iowa  Acad.  Sci.,  I,  1887-89  (1890),  p.  43  (Iowa).  BRAYTON, 
Geol.  Surv.  Ohio.,  IV,  Pt.  i,  1882,  p.  153  (Illinois,  etc.).  STRONG,  Geol.  Wis., 
Surv.  1873-79,  I.  1883,  p.  439  (Wisconsin).  MERRIAM,  Mamm.  Adirondack 
Reg.,  1886,  p.  275.  EVERMANN  &  BUTLER,  Proc.  Ind.  Acad.  Sci.,  1893  (1894), 
p.  126  (Indiana).  GARMAN,  Bull.  Essex  Inst.,  XXVI,  1894,  p.  6  (Kentucky). 
RHOADS,  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  1896  (1897),  p.  186  (Tennessee).  MILLER, 
Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  XXVIII,  1897,  p.  u  (North  Shore,  Lake  Superior). 
SNYDER,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  II,  1902,  p.  121  (Wisconsin).  ADAMS, 
Rept.  State  Board  Geol.  Surv.  Mich.,  1905  (1906),  p.  129  (Michigan).  JACKSON, 
Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XX,  1907,  p.  73  (S.  W.  Missouri).  McATEE,  Proc.  Biol. 
Soc.  Wash.,  XX,  1907,  p.  5  (Munroe  Co.,  Indiana).  HAHN,  Ann.  Rept.  Dept. 
Geol.  &  Nat.  Resources  Ind.,  1908  (1909),  p.  517  (Indiana).  HOWELL,  Proc. 
Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XXII,  1909,  p.  62  (Tennessee,  Mississippi,  etc.).  Ib.,  XXIII, 
1910,  p.  29  (Illinois,  Missouri,  Kentucky). 

Type  locality  —  Eastern, Canada. 

Distribution  —  Eastern  United  States  and  southeastern  Canada,  south 
to  northern  North  Carolina  and  northern  Georgia  and  west  to 
eastern  Nebraska  and  Kansas.  Replaced  farther  west  and  in  the 
South  by  allied  forms. 

Description  —  General  color  dark  chestnut  brown  above ;  under  parts 
brownish  white;  fur  of  back  and  rump  mixed  with  long,  blackish 
brown  hairs;  throat  whitish;  chin  with  brown  spot;  feet  brown,  the 
claws  horn  color;  tail  black,  nearly  bare  and  flattened,  vertically 
being  considerably  higher  than  wide.  Freaks  of  color  often  occur; 
black  specimens  are  not  uncommon  and  partly  white  or  entirely 
white  individuals  are  occasionally  taken. 

Measurements  —  Size  somewhat  variable,  generally  19  to  23  inches 
long.  The  following  measurements  probably  represent  an  average 
specimen:  Total  length,  21.50  in.  (546  mm.);  tail  vertebrae,  10.50 
in.  (266  mm.);  hind  foot,  3.30  in.  (86  mm.). 

Remarks  —  Cases  of  albinism,  either  complete  or  in  part,  are  not  un- 
common. About  three  years  ago  Mr.  W.  S.  McCrea  of  Chicago, 
called  my  attention  to  a  series  of  seven  Muskrat  skins  from  Hayfield, 
Iowa,  all  of  which  were  uniformly  marked,  having  a  white  ring 
around  the  neck  and  the  entire  under  parts,  feet  and  terminal  portion 
of  tail  white.  Such  uniform  coloration  in  a  series  of  specimens  was 
perplexing  and  suggestive,  especially  as  they  all  came  from  the 
same  locality;  but  later  two  specimens  were  received  from  Indiana, 
which  were  similarly  marked,  but  with  the  dark  parts  much  paler. 
The  Field  Museum  collection  contains  a  pure  white  example  of  this 
species. 
The  Muskrat  or  "Musquash,"  as  it  is  sometimes  called,  is  common 

in  the  ponds,  streams  and  overflowed  marshes  throughout  Illinois  and 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        227 


Muskrat  (Fiber  zibethicus) . 


228    FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NAT-URAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 

Wisconsin.  It  is  a  semi-aquatic  animal,  spending  the  greater  part  of 
its  time  in  the  water.  Although  largely  nocturnal  in  its  habits,  it  is 
often  to  be  seen  in  the  daytime  either  swimming  about  or  sunning 
itself  on  a  log  or  along  the  shore.  Like  the  Beaver  it  constructs  a  house 
for  itself  for  winter  use,  although  it  not  uncommonly  uses  a  hole  which 
it  digs  in  a  bank,  often  doing  considerable  damage  to  dams  and  canal 
banks  in  localities  where  they  are  numerous.  Bray  ton  says,  "Along 
the  line  of  the  Illinois  and  Michigan  Canal,  the  'canal  walkers'  are  com- 
pelled to  keep  a  sharp  eye  to  the  Muskrats,  lest  they  burrow  through 
the  bank,  and  trappers,  with  their  boats,  are  passed  through  the  locks 
and  given  the  right  of  way  along  the  tow-path."  (1.  c.,  p.  153.) 

Of  the  many  muskrat  houses  which  I  have  examined  a  description 
of  one  will  suffice.  It  was  built  in  a  marsh  on  the  edge  of  a  shallow 
pond;  and  it  was  constructed  of  reeds,  weed  stalks  and  sticks  mixed 
with  mud  and  was  somewhat  oblong  in  shape,  although  from  a  dis- 
tance it  appeared  to  be  nearly  round.  The  top  of  the  rounded  dome 
was  three  feet  high  measured  from  the  surface  of  the  swamp  and  slight- 
ly over  four  feet  where  built  up  from  the  side  under  water.  The  great - 


A  Muskrat  House. 


FEB.,  1912.    MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        229 

est  diameter  was  6  feet.  The  inside  chamber  measured  about  20  x  17 
inches,  the  height  above  the  water  being  about  14  inches  at  the  highest 
point,  the  ceiling  being  irregular.  The  floor  of  the  chamber  was  about 
7  inches  above  the  water  but  slanted  downward  at  one  side  to  a  large 
hole  or  passageway  leading  out  under  water  into  the  pond:  The  size 
of  the  houses  varies  considerably,  however,  and  many  are  larger. 

When  a  hole  in  a  bank  is  made,  it  is  usually  a  simple  affair,  a  single 
entrance  under  water  and  a  passageway  two  or  three  feet  long  with  an 
enlarged  chamber  at  the  end.  In  some  cases  the  holes  are  considerably 
deeper,  with  two  or  more  entrances  and  several  connecting  passageways, 
but  in  such  cases  I  believe  they  were  used  by  several  animals.  In 
winter  when  the  ponds  and  streams  are  frozen  over,  these  animals  find 


-        ' 

Muskrat  burrow  in  a  bank. 

more  or  less  air  in  spaces  under  the  ice,  but  there  is  generally  a  regular 
air  hole  in  the  ice,  which  is  kept  open  by  frequent  use. 

The  food  of  the  Muskrats  consists  mainly  of  vegetable  matter, 
aquatic  plants  and  roots,  but  they  are  fond  of  fresh-water  mussels  and, 
when  a  cultivated  field  or  apple  orchard  is  near  by  the  pond  in  which 
they  live,  they  are  not  averse  to  an  addition  to  their  bill  of  fare  in  the 
way  of  vegetables  and  fruit.  They  also  occasionally  eat  fish  and  dead 
birds  when  they  can  get  them.  In  this  connection,  Dr.  C.  H.  Merriam 
quotes  Mr.  W.  H.  Dall  as  follows: — 

"  '  In  1863, 1  visited  Kankakee,  Illinois,  on  a  collecting  tour  for  river 
mollusks,  in  July.  You  know  how  the  Muskrats  throw  up  mounds  of 
the  shells  they  dig  out.  I  examined  many  of  these  for  Unios,  etc.  On 
several  I  saw  the  skeletons  of  fish  (chiefly  suckers  I  believe)  partly  or 
wholly  denuded  of  their  flesh,  and  showing  the  marks  of  Muskrat  (or 
at  least  rodent)  teeth.  I  also  saw  the  shell  of  a  common  mud  turtle, 


230    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

so  gnawed  and  in  the  same  situation.  I  did  not  see  the  animal  in  the 
act  of  feasting,  which  I  believe  is  chiefly  done  at  night,  but  I  have  no 
doubt  that  the  fish  and  turtle  were  eaten  by  the  Muskrat,  as  well  as 
the  mollusks  associated  with  them  in  the  same  pile.' ':  (7.  c.,  p.  286.) 
Dr.  Merriam  also  says:  "Mr.  Charles  F.  Carr  writes  me  that  in 
Wolf  River,  Wisconsin,  twelve  or  fifteen  years  ago,  Muskrats  were  in 
the  habit  of  eating  fish  from  a  gill  net  set  there  by  a  man  named  Rich." 
(/.  c.,  p.  287.) 

Robert  Kennicott  gives  an  interesting  account  of  the  habits  of  this 
animal.  He  says:  "The  muskrat  is  active  in  winter,  seeking  its  food 
under  the  ice,  and  carrying  it  into  its  burrow  or  house  to  be  eaten. 
Though  roots  are  sometimes  found  in  a  nest  in  winter,  they  are  only  such 
as  have  been  recently  brought  in,  no  considerable  stores  of  food  being 
collected.  The  food,  in  winter,  appears  to  consist  of  roots  of  aquatic 
plants.  In  summer,  it  also  feeds  upon  the  leaves  of  various  plants,  as 
well  as  upon  mussels,  (Unios  anodonta  and  U.  plicatus,  etc.),  of  which 
they  consume  great  quantities  in  some  of  our  rivers.  Collecting  them 
at  the  bottom,  it  carries  them  in  its  teeth  to  a  log,  or  stone,  where, 
sitting  upon  its  haunches  and  grasping  them  in  the  fore-paws,  it  opens 
the  shell  with  the  incisors  as  skillfully  as  it  could  be  done  with  an  oyster- 
knife.  In  this  way,  large  piles  of  shells  are  collected  around  stones  and 
logs,  by  examining  which  the  conchologist  may  often  find  rare  species, 
brought  from  the  mud  by  these  animals  which  have  been  more  suc- 
cessful collectors  than  himself.  I  have  observed  that  those  species 
with  thin  shells  are  most  sought  for,  and  have  often  found  large  speci- 
mens of  Unio  plicatus  unopened  among  the  piles  of  empty  shells,  the 
muskrat  apparently  considering  them  not  worth  the  trouble  of  gnawing 
apart  the  valves  at  the  back,  in  which  manner  the  heavy  shells  are 
sometimes  opened. 

"This  species  is  pugnacious,  and  resists  courageously  when  attacked. 
The  males  sometimes  have  fierce  battles,  and  trappers  state  that  the 
tail  is  occasionally  mutilated,  or  cut  entirely  off  in  these  combats.  The 
voice  is  a  sharp  squeak,  and  some  hunters  will  call  the  males  within 
shooting  distance  by  imitating  it.  From  five  to  seven  young  —  more 
or  less  —  are  produced  in  April  or  May.  In  this  region,  at  least,  the 
muskrats'  worst  enemy  is  the  mink,  which,  swimming  and  diving 
readily,  not  only  enters  their  burrows  and  houses,  but  pursues  them  in 
the  water.  The  mink  does  not  find  an  easy  prey,  as  the  muskrats  fight 
savagely;  but,  emboldened  by  hunger,  he  finally  kills  his  victim,  when 
he  does  not  scruple  to  devour  the  whole  body.  Otters  probably  kill 
them,  also,  as  they  are  occasionally  found  in  muskrat  houses."  (/.  c., 
pp.  106-107.) 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  or  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        231 

The  flesh  of  the  Muskrat  is  palatable  and  is  more  generally  eaten 
than  most  people  suppose;  in  this  connection  the  following  state- 
ment by  Lantz  is  of  interest:  "In  February,  1907,  the  Philadelphia 
Record  stated  that  a  single  dealer  in  Dock  street  in  that  city  sold  about 
3,000  muskrats  a  week  for  food.  The  chief  source  of  this  supply  was 
stated  to  be  in  the  vicinity  of  Salem,  N.  J.  The  Saginaw  (Mich.) 
Courier-Herald  states  that  in  the  season  of  1907-8  dressed  muskrats 
in  that  place  retailed  at  from  15  to  20  cents  each,  and  that  dealers  had 
ready  sale  for  all  they  could  provide.  Muskrat  is  said  to  be  a  favorite 
dish  at  dinners  given  by  church  societies  in  Delaware  and  Maryland, 
and  annual  muskrat  banquets  are  a  feature  with  certain  gun  clubs  in 
the  West.  Those  of  the  Munroe  (Mich.)  Marsh  Club  have  been  cele- 
brated for  many  years."  *  Kennicott  informs  us  that  in  early  days  the 
Pottawattamie  Indians  ate  the  flesh  of  the  muskrat  boiled  with  corn 
or  roasted,  and  that  hunters  and  trappers  "esteem  the  tail  a  great 
delicacy." 

Immense  numbers  of  these  animals  are  annually  trapped  for  their 
skins  which  are  in  popular  demand  among  the  cheaper  class  of  furs. 
According  to  Lantz  the  records  of  the  London  importation  and  sales 
are  as  follows:  "From  1763  to  1800  (thirty-eight  years)  the  total 
number  of  skins  imported  and  sold  in  that  market  was  2,831,453,  an 
average  of  less  than  75,000  yearly.  During  the  fifty  years  from  1801 
to  1850  the  total  was  20,571,428,  or  an  average  of  411,000  yearly.  From 
1851  to  1890,  inclusive,  the  importations  were  99,893,591,  a  yearly 
average  of  2,500,000.  The  average  London  sales  in  recent  years  have 
been  over  4,000,000  per  annum,  and  the  entire  output  of  skins  for  1900 
was  5,285,000.  A  large  part  of  the  total  collection  is  sold  through 
London,  but  in  the  last  few  years  an  increasing  number  are  dressed  and 
manufactured  in  America."  (1.  c.,  p.  24) 

Specimens  examined  from  Illinois,  Wisconsin  and  adjoining  states: 

Illinois  —  Libertyville,  i ;  Chicago,  4;  Warsaw,  i  =  6. 

Wisconsin  —  Sayner,  i ;  Milton,  i ;  Green  Bay,  2 ;  Conover,  i ;  Eagle 
River,  i;  Beaver  Dam,  3;  (M.  P.  M.)  Milwaukee,  i;  Muskego 
Lake,  Waukesha  Co.,  i;  Pewaukee,  5;  Delavan,  2;  Maiden  Rock, 
i;  (O.  C.)  Mercer,  15  (skulls);  Turtle  Lake,  Barron  Co.,  i;  Lake 
Pewaukee,  4;  Cedar  Lake,  Turtle  River,  Iron  Co.,  i;  Coif  ax,  Dunn 
Co.,  12  (skulls)  =  52. 

Minnesota  —  Aitken,  3. 

Iowa  —  Mayfield,  7. 

Indiana  —  La  Porte,  2. 

*U.  S.  Dept.  Agr.,  Fanners'  Bull.  396,  1910,  p.  22. 


232     FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 


Map  illustrating  approximate  distribution  of  Muskrats  (Fiber)  in  eastern  United  States  and 

Canada. 

Fiber  zibethicus  (LiNN.).    Type  locality — Eastern  Canada.    Description  as  previous- 
ly given. 
Fiber  z.  hudsonius  PREBLE.     (N.  Amer.  Fauna,  No.  22,  1902,  p.  53.)    Type  locality  — 

Fort  Churchill,  Keewatin,  Canada.     Smaller  and  paler  than  zibethicus,  with 

smaller  molars. 
Fiber  z.  cinnamominus  HOLLISTER.     (Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XXIII,  1910,  p.  126.) 

Type  locality  —  Wakeeney,  Trego  Co.,  Kansas.     Coloration  pale;  smaller  and 

more  reddish  than  zibethicus. 
Fiber  z.  aquilonius  BANGS.     (Proc.  N.  Eng.  Zool.  Club,  I,  1899,  p.  1 1.)     Type  locality 

—  Rigoulette,  Hamilton  Inlet,  Labrador.     Darker  and  upper  parts  more  black- 
ish than  zibethicus;  hind  foot  smaller. 
Fiber  z.  macrodon  (MERRIAM).    (Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XI,  1897,  p.  143.)     Type 

locality  —  Lake  Drummond,   Dismal  Swamp,   Norfolk  Co.,   Virginia.     Color 

darker  and  richer  than  zibethicus;  teeth  larger. 
Fiber  z.  rivalicius  BANGS.     (Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  XXVI,  1895,  p.  541.)    Type 

locality  —  Burbridge,  Plaquemines  Parish,  Louisiana.     Smaller  than  zibethicus 

and  coloration  more  dull  and  sooty. 
Fiber  obscurus  BANGS.     (Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  IX,  1894,  p.  133.)     Type  locality — 

Codroy,  New  Foundland.     Smaller  than  zibethicus;  upper  parts  darker,  and 

under  oa.rts  and  sides  less  ferruginous. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        233 


Genus  SYNAPTOMYS  Baird. 

Synaptomys  Baird,  Mammals  N.  Amer.,  1857,  p.  558.     Type  Synap- 
tomys  cooperi  Baird. 
Front  of  upper  incisors   (front  teeth)   with  distinct  groove  near 

outer  edge;  molars  without  pronged  roots;  tail  short;  face  of  incisors 
orange  brown  in  color;  crowns  of  molars  with  transverse 
loops.  A  North  American  genus  comprising  two  subgenera, 
Synaptomys  and  Mictomys,  but  only  the  former  is  represented 
within  our  limits.  The  subgenus  Synaptomys  has  the 
crowns  of  the  lower  cheek  teeth  (molars)  with  closed  enamel 

triangles,  a  loop  on  the  outer  edge,  and  the  mammas  are  6. 

Dental  formula:  I.  — ,  C.— ,  Pm.  — ,  M.  ^=  16. 
i-i        o-o  o-o         3-3 

Subgenus  SYNAPTOMYS  Baird. 

Synaptomys  cooperi  gossii  (MERRIAM). 

Goss's  LEMMING  MOUSE. 

Synaptomys  helaletes  gossii  MERRIAM,  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  X,  1896,  p.  60. 
Synaptomys  gossi  HOWELL,  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XXIII,  1910,  p.  30  (Missouri 

and  southern  Illinois). 
Synaptomys  cooperi  COUES,  Monog.  N.  Amer.  Rodentia,  1877,  p.  235-236  (part) 

(southern  Illinois).     OSBORN,  Proc.  Iowa  Acad.  Sci.,  I,  1887-89  (1890),  p.  43 

(Iowa).    WOOD,  111.  State  Lab.  Nal.  Hist.,  VIII,  1910,  p.  559  (Champaign  Co., 

111.). 

Type  locality — Neosho  Falls,  Woodson  Co.,  Kansas. 

Distribution  —  Kansas,  Missouri  and  southern  Illinois,  northward 
through  at  least  a  considerable  portion  of  Illinois,  Iowa  and  Nebras- 
ka to  South  Dakota ;  range  not  satisfactorily  determined. 

Description  —  Adult  in  summer:  General  color  of  upper  parts  dark 
rusty  brown  or  reddish  brown  mixed  with  black  tipped  hairs;  under 
parts  plumbeous  gray,  the  hairs  with  white  tips  but  the  plumbeous 
under  fur  showing  through;  a  dusky  mark  at  base  of  the  whiskers; 
tail  brownish  above,  paler  beneath;  skull  larger  and  heavier  and 
brain  case  actually  and  relatively  longer  than  in  cooperi. 

Adult  in  winter:  Grayer  and  decidedly  less  reddish  brown.  Im- 
mature specimens  are  quite  different,  the  general  color  of  the  upper 
parts  being  dusky  slate  or  grayish  brown  according  to  age. 

Measurements  —  Total  length,  about  5  in.  (128  mm.);  tail  vertebrae, 
.70  in.  (17. 5  mm.);  hind  foot,  .75  in.  (19  mm.). 


234    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

The  field  measurements  of  six  specimens  in  this  Museum,  collected 
by  E.  Heller  at  Rosiclare,  Hardin  Co.,  Illinois,  are  as  follows: 


No    16049,  c^1 

Total  Length. 
.  .  .  .          132  mm. 

Tail  Vertebras. 
19  mm. 

Hind  Foot. 
19.5  mm. 

No.  15782,  c?  

.  .  .  .             122 

17    ' 

19        " 

No    15784,  c?          .  . 

128      " 

18    " 

19        " 

No.  16051,  cf  

no  " 

20    ' 

19.15     '' 

No    16052,   9           •  • 

IV)     " 

18    " 

2O 

No.  1  5781.   9  .  . 

128   " 

17    " 

IQ.5     " 

The  measurements  of  the  smallest  and  largest  of  six  specimens, 
which  I  have  examined,  from  Horseshoe  Lake,  Missouri,  collected  by 
A.  H.  Howell,  in  the  U.  S.  Biological  Survey  collection,  are  as  follows: 
Total  length,  118  and  136  mm.;  tail  vertebrae,  18  and  21  mm.; 
hind  foot,  18  and  20  mm. 

The  distribution  of  the  various  forms  of  Synaptomys  is  not  definitely 
known.  Specimens  which  I  have  examined  from  Indiana,  which  have 
been  recorded  by  various  authors  as  cooperi  (or  stonei,  a  supposed  form 
which  is  probably  not  separable  from  it),  are  apparently  intermediate 
between  gossii  and  cooperi,  although  perhaps  averaging  nearer  the 
latter,  and  the  same  may  be  said  of  specimens  from  east  central  Illinois 
(Champaign  Co.),  while  those  I  have  seen  from  Ann  Arbor,  Michigan, 
seem  to  be  intermediate  between  cooperi  and  fatuus.  Specimens  from 
southern  Illinois  agree  very  well  with  typical  gossii,  as  do  those  from 
Iowa;  and  Hahn  states*  he  secured  examples  from  the  Missouri  River, 
South  Dakota,  which  he  considered  to  be  gossii,  as  they  differed  "mark- 
edly from  the  Indiana  specimens  in  being  much  larger  and  clumsier, 
with  larger  and  heavier  skull."  So  far  as  I  know,  no  specimens  of 
Synaptomys  have  been  taken  in  northern  Illinois  or  southern  Wiscon- 
sin, but  those  from  northern  Wisconsin  are  apparently  fatuus,  as  they 
agree  in  size  and  cranial  characters  (including  the  small  narrow  incisors) 
with  examples  of  that  form  in  this  Museum  from  the  type  locality, 
Lake  Edward,  Quebec.  Minnesota  specimens  which  I  have  seen,  while 
not  typical,  are  near  fatuus. 

While  the  eastern  form  of  this  Mouse,  Synaptomys  cooperi,  is  an 
inhabitant  of  swamps  and  sphagnum  bogs,  in  the  western  part  of  its 
range  it  does  not  appear  to  restrict  itself  to  such  localities;  in  fact,  in 
Indiana,  where  it  appears  to  intergrade  with  gossii,  by  far  the  greater 
number  have  been  taken  in  grassy  fields  and  open  woods.  Hahn 
states  (/.  c.,  p.  523)  that  he  secured  but  a  single  specimen  in  a  swamp, 
and  that  they  seemed  to  be  confined  to  areas  covered  with  dense  blue 
grass.  In  describing  the  habits  of  Synaptomys  in  Indiana,  Quick  and 
Butler  say: 

*  Ann.  Rept.  Dept.  Geol.  &  Nat.  Resources  Ind.,  1908  (1909),  p.  522. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        235 


Goss's  Lemming  Mouse  (Synaptomys    cooperi  gossii)  . 

"This  mouse  is  found  on  hillsides  in  high,  dry,  blue  grass  pastures, 
where  flat  stones  are  irregularly  scattered  over  the  surface;  it  especial- 
ly prefers  what  are  known  as  'wood  pastures'  containing  little  or  no 
undergrowth.  .  .  .  Cooper's  field  mouse  has  been  found  breed- 
ing from  February  to  December.  It  has  never  been  known  by  the 
authors  to  bring  forth  more  than  four  young  at  a  time. "...  The 
nest  of  this  species  is  always  under  cover,  generally  in  a  hollow  log  or 
stump,  and  is  composed  of  fine  grass.  It  is  not  so  securely  built  as  the 
nests  of  some  of  the  other  species  of  this  family. 

"Cooper's  mice  live  in  winter  chiefly  upon  the  stems  of  blue  grass 
and  the  more  tender  portions  of  the  white  clover.  Stores  of  these  foods 
may  be  found  near  their  winter  quarters.  In  November,  1883,  a  large 
quantity  of  the  tuberous  roots  of  the  plant  commonly  called  'wild 
artichoke'  (Helianthus  doronicoides  Lam.)  were  found  in  one  of  the 
store-houses  of  a  colony  of  these  mice.  .  .  .  Cooper's  mouse  is 
the  most  active  representative  of  its  family  in  this  locality.  It  is  most 
frequently  found  by  turning  over  stones  and  logs,  beneath  which  it 
remains  concealed,  especially  in  winter.  Upon  removing  their  cover- 
ing, as  the  light  reaches  them,  they  are  off  like  a  flash  for  their  sub- 
terranean paths,  leaving  the  collector  to  mourn  for  a  valuable  speci- 
men, a  glimpse  of  which  he  caught  as  it  fled  before  his  hand  could 
grasp  the  prize."  (Amer.  Nat.,  XIX,  1885,  pp.  114,  115.) 


236    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

So  few  specimens  have  been  taken  in  Illinois  that  we  know  very 
little  as  to  its  habits  in  the  state.  Thus  far  it  has  been  taken  only  in 
Hardin,  Champaign,  and  Marion  counties.  The  specimens  recorded 
by  Wood  as  found  dead  near  Urbana,  Champaign  Co.,  were  "on  a 
low  bluff  overlooking  a  creek,  in  pasture  land  where  there  were  stumps 
and  scattered  trees."  (/.  c.,  p.  56.)  In  southern  Illinois,  however, 
they  seem  to  prefer  swampy  localities,  as  do  those  which  have  been 
taken  in  Missouri. 

Mr.  A.  H.  Howell  found  this  species  common  at  Horseshoe  Lake, 
St.  Charles  County,  Missouri.  He  says,  "A  large  colony  had  occupied 
a  low  marshy  meadow  close  to  the  Mississippi  River.  At  the  time 
of  my  visit  the  water  in  the  river  was  very  high,  and  the  meadow  was 
overflowed  to  the  depth  of  12  to  1 8  inches.  The  mice  had  been  driven 
from  their  burrows  by  the  high  water,  and  were  hiding  as  well  as  they 
could  on  tussocks  and  under  patches  of  floating  debris.  When  dis- 
turbed they  ran  rather  slowly  over  the  submerged  vegetation  and 
swam  freely,  but  were  easily  overtaken.  Many  had  been  killed  by 
dogs  or  other  predatory  animals,  and  I  was  able  to  get  as  many  speci- 
mens as  I  needed  by  catching  them  in  my  hands.  The  burrows  in  this 
meadow  were  on  little  hillocks,  the  entrances  near  the  top.  Thus  they 
are  probably  dry  except  in  times  of  very  high  water.  The  entrances  are 
perfectly  open  and  not  concealed  under  vegetation  as  is  the  habit  of 
Synaptomys  cooperi  in  the  eastern  States.  Well  beaten  runways 
extended  out  from  the  burrows  and  under  the  dead  vegetation." 
(I.e.,  p.  30.) 

Mr.  Howell  secured  a  single  specimen  of  Synaptomys  in  Illinois, 
which  he  provisionally  referred  to  this  form.  It  was  taken  in  an  old 
dry  marsh  at  Odin,  Marion  Co.  He  states  that  it  agrees  with  gossii 
in  color,  but  the  skull  is  too  young  to  be  properly  identified  (1.  c.,  p.  30). 

Specimens  examined  from  Illinois  and  adjoining  states : 
Illinois  —  Rosiclare,  Hardin  Co.,  u;  (I.  S.  L.)  (intermediate  between 

gossii  and  cooperi)  Urbana,  Champaign  Co.,  2  (only  one  with  skull). 
Missouri  —  (B.  S.)  Horseshoe  Lake,  6. 
Iowa —  (N.  M.)  Knoxville,  i. 
Indiana  —  (Not  typical,  intermediate  between  gossii  and  cooperi  but 

averaging  nearer  cooperi)  Bascom,  2 ;  Mitchell,  2 ;  Hebron,  i ;  Brook- 

ville,    1  =  6. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  or  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        237 

Synaptomys  cooperi  fatuus  (BANGS). 
BANGS'S  LEMMING  MOUSE. 

Synaptomys  fatuus  BANGS,  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  X,  1896,  p.  47.  MILLER,  Proc. 
Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  XXVIII,  No.  i,  1897,  p.  11  (North  Bay  and  Peninsular 
Harbor,  Ontario). 

Type  locality  —  Lake  Edward,  Province  of  Quebec,  Canada. 

Distribution  —  Eastern  Canada,  south  to  Maine,  New  Hampshire 
and  northern  Wisconsin  and  probably  northern  Michigan  and  Minne- 
sota; exact  limits  of  range  unknown. 

Description  —  Similar  to  S.  cooperi,  but  averaging  somewhat  smaller  and 
darker,  the  skull  smaller  and  the  upper  incisors  shorter  and  narrower. 

Measurements  —  Total    length,    about    4.75    in.     (120.5    mm.);    tail 
vertebras,  .69  in.  (17.5  mm.);  hind  foot,  .71  in.  (18  mm.). 
The  following  are  the  field  measurements  of  six  specimens  collected 

by  Mr.  W.  H.  Osgood  in  northern  Wisconsin: 

Total  Length.        Tail  Vertebrae.  Hind  Foot  . 

No.  18302,  cf,  Conover,  Vilas  Co 128  mm.  18  mm.  18.5  mm. 

No.  18304,  ? ,  Conover,  Vilas  Co 122    '  18    '  18.5    ' 

No.  18303,  9 ,  Conover,  Vilas  Co 121     '  17    '  18 

No.  18305,  9  ,  Lac  Vieux  Desert,  Vilas  Co.  117    '  17  19 

No.  16250,  9  ,  Sayner,  Vilas  Co 103    '  17  19 

No.  16249,  d",  Solon  Springs,  Douglas  Co.  116    '  17    '  17.5    " 

So  far  as  I  am  aware,  Bangs's  Lemming  Mouse  has  not  been  pre- 
viously recorded  from  Wisconsin.  Specimens  in  this  Museum  from 
northern  Wisconsin  approach  much  nearer  to  this  form  than  to  cooperi 
and  agree  very  well  in  size  and  cranial  characters  with  those  from  the 
type  locality.  Bangs's  Lemming  Mouse  is,  no  doubt,  not  uncommon 
in  suitable  localities  throughout  at  least  the  northern  portion  of  the 
state.  Its  natural  habitat  is  wet  bogs  and  sphagnum  swamps  both 
in  open  places  and  in  woods.  Mr.  Osgood  informs  me  that  in  the 
localities  he  visited  in  Vilas  County  they  were  quite  scarce  and  were 
only  found  in  small  numbers  in  isolated  colonies  in  cold  sphagnum 
swamps.  Even  where  occasional  specimens  were  caught,  continued 
trapping  often  failed  to  secure  others.  Mr.  Gerrit  S.  Miller  secured 
specimens  of  this  Mouse  at  Peninsular  Harbor,  Ontario,  in  the  northern . 
shore  of  Lake  Superior,  where,  he  says,  it  frequently  occurs  at  the  bor- 
ders of  clearings  especially  near  boggy  places  grown  up  to  bushes.  He 
caught  one  under  the  foundation  of  a  disused  log  cabin  in  low  ground 
near  the  woods  and  secured  others  in  pitfalls  dug  at  the  edge  of  a  garden. 
He  says,  "wherever  the  animal  occurred  it  lived  in  cavities  among  roots 
covered  with  moss  and  sphagnum.  Even  in  places  where  it  was  most 
abundant  I  could  find  no  beaten  runways."  (/.  c.,  p.  12). 


238     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

Specimens  examined  from  Wisconsin  and  adjoining  states: 
Wisconsin  —  Solon  Springs,   Douglas  Co.,    i;  Sayner,  Vilas  Co.,    i; 

Lac  Vieux  Desert,  Vilas  Co.,  i;  Conover,  Vilas  Co.,  3  =  6. 
Minnesota  —  (N.  M.)  Elk  River,  i ;  not  typical  but  approaching  fatuus. 
Michigan — (B.  S.)  Ann  Arbor,  2;  intermediate  between  fatuus  and 

cooperi. 


(•)  Specimens   examined 
O Records. 


Map  illustrating  the  supposed  distribution  of  Lemming  Mice  belonging  to  the  subgenus  Synap- 
tomys,  which  occur  in  eastern  United  States.  The  map  is  provisional,  as  the  ranges  of  the  various 
forms  have  not  been  determined.  No  attempt  has  been  made  to  include  all  records  east  of  Indiana 
and  Michigan. 

Synaptomys  cooperi  BAIRD.  (Mammals  N.  Amer.,  1857,  p.  558.)  Type  locality  — 
Unknown;  supposed  to  be  New  Jersey.  Color,  sepia  to  tawny  brown  (more  or 
less  variable)  mixed  with  scattered  black  hairs  on  back;  hairs  on  under  parts 
plumbeous,  with  whitish  tips;  mammae  6.  Total  length,  about  4.75  in. 
(120  mm.);  tail  vertebras,  .70  in.  (17.5  mm.);  hind  foot,  .72  in.  (18  mm.). 

Synaptomys  c.  fatuus  BANGS.  Type  locality  —  Lake  Edward,  Quebec,  Canada. 
Similar  to  cooperi,  but  averaging  smaller  and  somewhat  darker  than  cooperi; 
skull  smaller  and  upper  incisors  shorter  and  narrower.  Occurs  in  northern 
Wisconsin  and  northward. 

Synaptomys  c.  gossii  (MERRIAM).  Type  locality  —  Neosho  Falls,  Woodson  Co., 
Kansas.  Size  averaging  larger  than  cooperi  and  color  more  reddish  brown; 
skull  larger  and  rostrum  narrower;  smaller  audital  bullae.  The  brain  case 
in  adult  specimens  is  both  actually  and  relatively  longer  than  cooperi. 

Synaptomys  c.  helaletes  (MERRIAM).  (Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  X,  1896,  p.  59.) 
Type  locality  —  Dismal  Swamp,  Norfolk  Co.,  Virginia.  Similar  to  cooperi, 
but  skull  somewhat  longer  and  heavier;  tail  shorter  and  feet  larger.  "Similar 
to  S.  cooperi,  but  with  larger  head  and  feet,  longer  tail,  much  broader  rostrum 
and  mandible,  and  larger  and  more  massive  skull  and  teeth"  (Merriam). 


FEB.  1912.    MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.         239 


Family  GEOMYID^E.      Pocket  Gophers. 

The  Geomyida  are  a  family  of  fossorial  or  burrowing  Rodents  com- 
monly known  as  Pocket  Gophers,  which  are  restricted,  so  far  as  known, 
to  North  and  Central  America.  They  are  characterized  by  the  greatly 
developed  claws  of  the  fore  feet,  small  eyes  and  ears  and  external 
cheek  pouches  lined  with  fur,  which  open  on  the  sides  of  the  face. 
Nine  genera,  three  of  which  occur  in  the  United  States,  and  more  than 
100  species  and  subspecies  are  recognized,  but  only  one  genus  and  a 
single  species  occur  within  our  limits. 


Genus  GEOMYS  Rafinesque.- 

Geomys  Rafinesque,  Amer.   Monthly  Mag.,   II,    1817,  p.   45.     Type 
Geomys  pinetis  Rafinesque. 

Upper  incisors  with  two  grooves  (bisul- 
cate),  a  deep  one  in  the  middle  and  much 
smaller  and  narrower  one  near  the  inner 
edge;  first  and  second  upper  molars  with 
posterior  enamel  plate;  infraorbital  foramen 
confined  to  lower  portion  of  maxilla;  auditory 
meatus  much  elongated  and  tubular,  opening 
between  the  mastoid  process  of  the  squamosal 
and  posterior  root  of  zygoma*;  crowns  of 
cheek  teeth  with  transverse  enamel  loops, 

a  single  loop  on  each  molar  and  two  on  the  premolar;  claws  of  fore 
feet  much  elongated;  external  cheek  pouches  large,  opening  on  sides 
of  face;  eyes  small;  tail  thick,  much  shorter  than  the  body,  and  the 
terminal  portion  scantily  haired;  ears  very  small. 


Front  view  showing  cheek 

pouches  and  grooved 

upper  incisors. 


^=20. 


Dental  formula:  I. »  C. >  Pm.  -  —  >  M. 

i-i        o-o  i-i          3-3 

Geomys  bursarius  (SHAW). 
POCKET  GOPHER. 

Mus  bursarius  SHAW,  Trans.  Linn.  Soc.  Lond.,  V,  1800,  p.  227. 

Geomys  ?  bursarius  RICHARDSON,  Fauna  Bor.  Amer.,  I,  1829,  p.  203. 

Geomys  bursarius  LAPHAM,  Trans.  Wis.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  II,  1852  (1853),  p.  340  (Wis- 
consin). KENNICOTT,  Trans.  111.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  I,  1853-54  (1855),  p.  580 
(Cook  Co.,  Illinois).  /&.,  Agr.  Rept.  for  1857,  U.  S.  Patent  Office  Rept.,  1858, 
*See  Illustration,  p.  96. 


240    FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 

p.  72  (Illinois).  BAIRD,  Mammals  N.  Amer.,  1857,  p.  377  (Illinois).  ALLEN, 
Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  XIII,  1869  (1871),  p.  190  (Iowa).  STRONG,  Geol. 
Wis.,  Surv.  1873-79,  Hi  1883,  p.  440  (Wisconsin).  HERRICK,  Geol.  &  Nat. 
Hist.  Surv.  Minn.,  Bull.  No.  7,  1892,  p.  223  (Minnesota).  MERRIAM,  N.  Amer. 
Fauna,  No.  8,  1895,  p.  120  (Minnesota,  Iowa,  Missouri,  Illinois,  Wisconsin, 
etc.).  JACKSON,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  VI,  1908,  p.  24  (Wisconsin).  Ib., 
VIII,  1910,  p.  88  (Wisconsin).  HAHN,  Ann.  Rept.  Dept.  Geol.  &  Nat.  Resources 
Ind.,  1908  (1909),  p.  524  (Indiana).  HOWELL,  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XXIII, 
1910,  p.  31  (Illinois).  VAN  HYNING  &  PELLETT,  Proc.  Iowa  Acad.  Sci., 
XVII,  1910,  p.  212  (Iowa). 

Type  locality  • —  Uncertain,  supposed  to  be  upper  Mississippi  Valley. 
Distribution  • — •  From  North  Dakota  and  northern  Wisconsin  south  to 
eastern  Kansas  and  Illinois;  occurs  sparingly  in  western  Indiana. 
In  Illinois  it  has  been  recorded  by  Howell  as  far  south  as  Randolph 
and  Jefferson  counties;  replaced  in  more  southern  and  western 
states  by  other  forms. 

Description  —  Somewhat  larger  than  a  House  Rat  and  much  more 
thick  set;  neck  very  short;  cheeks  provided  with  pockets  which 
open  on  the  outside  and  are  lined  with  fur;  tail  stout,  the  terminal 
portion  nearly  bare;  eyes  and  ears  small.  General  color  dull  chest- 
nut brown,  the  under  parts  paler;  concealed  bases  of  the  hairs  dark 
plumbeous ;  feet  whitish ;  hair  on  basal  portion  of  tail  like  the  back, 
the  few  scanty  hairs  on  terminal  portion  white  or  whitish;  front 
feet  greatly  developed  for  digging,  the  claws  noticeably  large  and 
long. 

Average  measurements  —  Total  length,  about  n  in.  (279  mm); 
tail  vertebrae,  3.25  in.  (82. 6  mm.);  hind  foot,  1.45  in.  (37mm.). 
The  Pocket  Gopher  occurs  throughout  the  greater  portion  of  Illi- 
nois and  Wisconsin  in  localities  where  there  are  prairie  lands  and  open 
places  where  the  soil  is  loose  and  sandy.  Kennicott  states  that  in  1853, 
while  it  was  not  common  in  Cook  County,  Illinois,  it  was  "very  abun- 
dant on  the  prairies  in  the  middle  of  the  state  where  the  farmers  are 
greatly  injured  by  it."  Wood  reports  it  from  Mason  Co.  and  states 
it  is  reported  to  be  common  in  the  western  part  of  the  state  (/.  c.,  p. 
561).  There  is  a  specimen  in  this  Museum  from  Anderson,  Macoupin 
Co.;  Dr.  Merriam  records  it  from  Cook  and  St.  Clair  counties  (I.  c., 
1895,  p.  120) ;  and  Baird  mentions  specimens  from  Morgan  and  Tazewell 
counties,  Illinois  (I.  c.,  p.  377).  Howell  found  it  in  Randolph,  Jefferson, 
Marion,  and  Richland  counties  and  he  considers  Coulterville  in  Ran- 
dolph County  to  be  about  the  southern  limit  of  its  range  in  Illinois 
(/.  c.,  p.  31). 

In  Wisconsin  it  is  locally  distributed  throughout  the  greater  portion 
of  the  state.     I  have  seen  specimens  from  Douglas,  Dunn,  Burnett 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        241 


242     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

and  Buffalo  counties;  Jackson  reports  them  from  Pepin,  Pierce  and 
Dunn  counties  (1.  c.,  1908,  p.  24),  and  in  a  later  paper  he  states  that  they 
are  "exceedingly  abundant  in  parts  of  the  sandy  country  in  the  southern 
two-thirds  of  Bayfield  and  Douglas  counties"  (1.  c.,  igio,  p.  88).  In 
the  southeastern  part  of  the  state  they  are  rarely  found,  although 
Dr.  Merriam  records  specimens  from  Winnebago  and  Fond  du  Lac 
counties  (I.  c.,  p.  120). 

The  Pocket  Gophers  live  in  underground  tunnels  which  they  exca- 
vate in  loose  alluvial  soils.  Their  food  consists  mainly  of  roots  of 
various  plants,  but  they  also  attack  the  roots  of  trees  and  often  do  con- 
siderable damage  to  orchards.  Lantz  says,*  "Originally  they  sub- 
sisted on  roots  and  stems  of  native  plants,  but  they  immediately  turned 
their  attention  to  the  cultivated  plants  introduced  by  the  settler,  includ- 
ing succulent  garden  vegetables,  alfalfa,  and  clover;  they  are  indebted 
to  the  settler  also,  for  the  destruction  of  many  of  their  natural  enemies 
and  for  loosening  the  soil  by  tillage.  Thus  the  gopher's  environment 
is  greatly  improved,  and  except  where  due  vigilance  has  been  exercised, 
these  pests  have  multiplied,  and  greatly  extended  their  range  in  culti- 
vated lands."  In  writing  of  its  depredations  the  same  author  says: 
"In  attacking  nursery  trees  the  gopher  takes  the  entire'root,  not  merely 
the  bark.  It  does  not  eat  the  roots  all  at  once  but  cuts  them  into 
short  pieces,  packs  them  into  its  enormous  cheek  pouches,  and  carries 
them  away  to  its  caches,  or  stores  of  food.  It  is  these  provisions  for 
the  future  that  make  its  injury  to  young  orchards,  nurseries,  and 
gardens  so  extensive.  The  animal  lays  up  far  more  than  it  ever  con- 
sumes. It  is  not  uncommon  to  plow  up  stores  of  small  potatoes  or 
roots  of  clover,  alfalfa,  or  trees  amounting  to  from  a  peck  to  half  a 
bushel  at  a  place.  As  the  stores  are  usually  placed  much  deeper  in 
the  ground,  those  uncovered  by  the  ploughman  are  but  a  small  portion 
of  those  deposited  by  the  animals"  (1.  c.,  p.  213). 

In  writing  of  this  species  Kennicott  says,  "East  of  the  Mississippi 
it  has  been  found  in  some  parts  of  Indiana,!  Michigan,  and  Wisconsin; 
and  on  the  great  prairies  in  Central  Illinois;  also  south  and  east  of  the 
Illinois  River  it  is  constantly  met  with.  .  .  .  On  the  wild  prairie, 
the  gopher  throws  up  a  mound  of  earth  of  considerable  size,  frequently 
10  feet  in  diameter  and  from  1^2  to  2  feet  in  height,  being  highest  on 
the  low  ground  liable  to  inundation.  In  this  mound  is  his  nest,  in  which 
the  young  are  bred;  and  from  it,  endless  galleries  are  excavated  in 
various  directions,  a  foot  or  two  below  the  surface.  These  are  com- 
plicated, frequently  intersecting  and  running  together,  and  in  short, 

*  Pocket  Gophers  as  Enemies  of  Trees.     Yearbook  Dept.  Agr.,  1909,  pp.  210-211. 

t  Its  range  in  Indiana  appears  to  be  restricted  to  the  western  portion  of  the 
state.  Hahn  records  it  from  Newton  and  Lake  counties  (/.  c.,  p.  525). 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        243 

forming  a  complete  network  of  underground  roads  through  which  these 
strange  animals  can  travel  for  miles.  In  digging  them,  the  gophers 
run  up  shafts  at  irregular  intervals  from  2  to  10  feet  apart,  which  open 
to  the  surface  usually  a  little  at  one  side  of  the  main  gallery,  and  from 
each  of  these  side  cuts  they  throw  out  the  earth  brought  from  the  main 
gallery  below,  to  the  amount  of  from  a  quart  to  one  or  more  bushels, 
and  thus  form  little  piles  of  earth  by  which  the  general  course  of  the 
burrow  may  be  traced.  They  have  a  remarkable  antipathy  to  the 
light  and  these  side  cuts  are  usually  closed  again  with  earth  after  they 
have  served  their  first  purpose.  .  .  .  The  main  galleries  are  about 
4  inches  in  diameter  and  the  side  cuts  from  2  to  3  inches.  ...  As 
observed  in  captivity,  when  the  gopher  begins  to  dig  from  the  surface, 
he  at  first  loosens  the  earth  with  his  claws,  aided  sometimes  with  his 
teeth,  then  scratches  it  back  with  his  fore-feet,  and  throws  it  further 
off  with  his  hind-feet.  As  the  hole  deepens,  he  does  not  always  carry 
out  the  earth  in  his  pouches,  but  frequently,  after  throwing  it  behind 
him  a  short  distance,  turns  round  and  simply  pushes  it  forth  with  his 
head  and  shoulders,  sometimes  filling  his  pouches  first  and  pushing 
before  him  a  quantity  of  earth  besides.  In  carrying  it  for  some  dis- 
tance within  his  burrow,  however,  he  appears  oftener  to  convey  it  all 
in  his  pouches.  . 

"The  proper  food  of  the  gopher  consists  of  roots,  which  are  usually 
obtained  without  leaving  his  underground  roads.  Though  he  some- 
times comes  to  the  surface  to  feed  upon  the  leaves  and  seeds  of  plants, 
this  does  not  appear  to  be  his  principal  means  of  subsistance.  The 
manner  in  which  he  naturally  procures  food  is  by  approaching  it  from 
below,  without  coming  above  ground  at  all.  He  lays  up  stores,  appar- 
ently, at  all  seasons.  Considerable  quantities  of  the  roots  of  the 
rosin- weed  (Silphium  laciniatum),  wild  artichokes  or  wild  sunflower 
(Helianthus?),  spike  flower  (Liatris?),  and  various  other  plants,  are 
collected  in  its  burrows  on  the  prairies;  while,  in  cultivated  fields,  I 
am  informed,  the  roots  of  the  grasses,  potatoes,  and  other  vegetables 
are  found  in  its  holes"  (I.  c.,  pp.  72-75). 

The  young  number  from  3  to  6,  generally  4  or  5,  and  the  majority 
are  born  in  April  in  this  latitude. 

Specimens  examined  from  Illinois,  Wisconsin  and  adjoining  states: 
Illinois  —  Anderson,  i. 
Indiana  —  St.  Joseph,  i. 
Minnesota  —  Ft.  Snelling,  4. 
Wisconsin — (M.  P.  M.)  Fountain  City,  4;  Prescott,  Pierce  Co.,  6; 

St.  Croix  Dam,  i;  Mouth  of  Yellow  River,  Burnett  Co.,  2;  Rush 

City  Bridge,  Burnett  Co.,  i;  (S.  C.).  Meridian,  Dunn  Co.,  2  =  16. 


244    FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 


Map  illustrating  approximate  range  of  the  Pocket  Gopher  (Geomys  bursarius),  together  with  the 
type  localities  of  other  species  and  subspecies  of  the  genus  which  occur  in  the  United  States. 


Geomys  bursarius  (SHAW).  Type  locality  —  Upper  Mississippi  Valley.  Description 
as  previously  given. 

Geomys  lutescens  (MERRIAM).  (N.  Amer.  Fauna,  No.  4,  1890,  p.  51.)  Type  local- 
ity—  Sandhills,  Birdwood  Creek,  Lincoln  Co.,  western  Nebraska.  Paler  than 
bursarius  and  skull  shorter. 

Geomys  breviceps  BAIRD.  (Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  VII,  1855,  p.  335).  Type 
locality  —  Prairie  Mer  Rouge,  Morehouse  Parish,  'Louisiana.  Smaller  than 
bursarius,  and  much  darker  above  and  below. 

Geomys  b.  sagittalis  MERRIAM.  (N.  Amer.  Fauna,  No.  8,  1895,  p.  134.)  Type 
locality  —  Clear  Creek,  Galveston  Bay,  Texas.  Similar  to  brevipes,  but  smaller 
and  more  highly  colored. 

Geomys  b.  attwateri  MERRIAM.  (N.  Amer.  Fauna,  No.  8,  1895,  p.  135.)  Type 
locality  —  Rockport,  Aransas  Co.,  Texas.  Similar  to  brevipes,  but  larger 
and  not  so  dark. 

Geomys  b.  llanensis  BAILEY.  (N.  Amer.  Fauna,  No.  25,  1905,  p.  129.)  Type  local- 
ity —  Llano,  Llano  Co.,  Texas.  Larger  and  lighter  than  brevipes;  skull  more 
arched. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        245 

Geomys  texensis  MERRIAM.  (N.  Amer.  Fauna,  No.  8,  1895,  p.  137.)  Type  local- 
ity—  Mason,  Mason  Co.,  Texas.  A  small  white-bellied  species  with  nasals 
shorter  and  broader  than  brevipes. 

Geomys  arenarius  MERRIAM.  (N.  Amer.  Fauna,  No.  8,  1895,  p.  139.)  Type  local- 
ity—  El  Paso,  El  Paso  Co.,  Texas.  Upper  parts  pale  drab;  somewhat  resem- 
bling lutescens,  but  smaller  and  tail  longer  and  more  hairy. 

Geomys  personatus  TRUE.  (Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  XI,  1888  (1889),  p.  159.)  Type 
locality  —  Padre  Island,  Cameron  Co.,  Texas.  Large  and  pale;  several  cranial 
differences,  noticeably  the  zygomatic  arches. 

Geomys  p.  fallax  MERRIAM.  (N.  Amer.  Fauna,  No.  8,  1895,  p.  144.)  Type  locality 
—  South  side  of  Nueces  Bay,  Cameron  Co.,  Texas.  Much  smaller  than  per- 
sonatus, color  darker,  tail  shorter. 

Geomys  tuza  (ORD).  (Outline's  Geography,  2nd  Amer.  ed.,  II,  1815,  p.  292.)  Type 
locality  —  Pine  barrens  near  Augusta,  Richmond  Co.,  Georgia.  Color  of  upper 
parts  cinnamon  brown ;  tail  longer  and  more  naked  and  upper  premolar  relatively 
much  longer  than  in  western  forms. 

Geomys  t.  mobilensis  MERRIAM.  (N.  Amer.  Fauna,  No.  8,  1895,  p.  119.)  Type 
locality  —  Mobile  Bay,  Baldwin  Co.,  Alabama.  Smaller  and  darker  than 
tuza;  audital  bullse  much  smaller  than  in  floridanus. 

Geomys  floridanus  (AuD.  &  BACH.).  (Quadrupeds  of  N.  Amer.,  Ill,  1854,  p.  242.) 
Type  locality  —  St.  Augustine,  St.  John  Co.,  Florida.  Darker  than  tuza, 
and  fore  feet  longer. 

Geomys  f.  austrinus  BANGS.  (Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  XXVIII,  1898,  p.  177.) 
Type  locality  —  Belleair,  Hillsboro  Co.,  Florida.  Similar  to  floridanus,  but 
paler  and  more  tawny ;  with  more  white  on  under  parts. 

Geomys  colonus  BANGS.  (Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  XXVIII,  1898,  p.  178.) 
Type  locality  —  St.  Mary's,  Camden  Co.,  Georgia.  Darker  than  floridanus, 
together  with  slight  cranial  differences. 

Geomys  cumberlandius  BANGS.  (Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  XXVIII,  1898,  p.  180.) 
Type  locality  —  "Stafford  Place,"  Cumberland  Island,  Camden  Co.,  Georgia. 
Size  large;  color  russet,  with  a  darker  dorsal  stripe  together  with  cranial  differ- 
ences. 


246    FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 


Family  ZAPODID^.     Jumping  Mice. 

The  Zapodida*  or  Jumping  Mice,  are  a  semi-boreal  family  com- 
prising two  well  marked  subfamilies  —  Zapodina  and  Sminthince;  the 
latter,  however,  is  not  represented  in  North  America.  The  subfamily 
Zapodince  contains  three  genera,  two  of  which  are  North  American  and 
which  include  about  20  species  and  subspecies,  but  so  far  only  a  single 
species,  the  Hudson  Bay  Jumping  Mouse, 
Zapus  hudsonius,  has  been  taken  within  our 
limits.  It  is  probable,  however,  that  the 
Woodland  Jumping  Mouse,  Napaozapus  in- 
signis,  occurs  in  northern  Wisconsin,  as  it  has 
been  taken  in  the  Michigan  peninsular.  The 
two  genera  may  be  briefly  characterized  as 
follows : 

A  small   upper   premolar   present;   tail   not 
tipped  with  white;  teeth  18.        Genus  Zapus. 

Upper    premolar    absent;    tail    tipped    with 
white;  teeth  16.  Genus  Napaozapus. 


Zapus. 
(Much  enlarged.) 


Napaozapus. 
(Much  enlarged.) 


Subfamily  ZAPODIN^E. 
Genus  ZAPUS  Coues. 

Zapus  Coues,  Bull.  U.  S.  Geol.  Surv.  Terr.,  2nd  ser.,  I,  1875,  p.  253. 

Type  Dipus  hudsonius  Zimmermann. 

Tail  very  long  and  slender;  hind  legs  greatly  elongated  ;  antorbital 
foramen  large  and  oval;  upper  premolar  present  but  small;  crowns  of 
molars  with  enamel  much  folded  ;  upper  incisors  sulcate  (grooved)  and 
brownish  orange  in  color;  hind  foot  with  5  toes,  each  with  separate 
metatarsal;  fore  foot  with  4  functional  toes  with  perfect  claws  and  a 
rudimentary  thumb  with  a  flat  nail;  pelage  rather  coarse;  internal 
cheek  pouches  present  but  small. 


Dental  formula:  I. 


i-i 


,  C.  —  ,  Pm.  —  ,  M. 


o-o 


o-o 


3-3 


=  18. 


*  For  reasons  for  recognizing  the  family  Zapodidce  as  distinct  from  Dipodidce, 
see  Lyon,  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  XXIII,  1901,  p.  659. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        247 

Zapus  hudsonius  (ZIMM.). 
HUDSON  BAY  JUMPING  MOUSE. 

Dipus  hudsonius  ZIMMERMANN,  Geog.  Gesch.  Mensch.  u.  vierfuss.  Thiere,  II,  1780, 
P-  358. 

Jaculus  americanus  WAGLER,  Nat.  Syst.  Amphib.,  1830,  p.  23. 

Meriones  Americanus  LAPHAM,  Trans.  Wis.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  II,  1852  (1853),  p.  339 
(Wisconsin). 

Jaculus  hudsonius  BAIRD,  Mammals  N.  Amer.,  1857,  p.  430  (in  part).  MILES, 
Rept.  Geol.  Surv.  Mich.,  I,  1860  (1861),  p.  221  (Michigan).  ALLEN,  Proc. 
Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  XIII,  1869  (1871),  p.  192  (Iowa).  STRONG,  Geol.  Wis. 
Surv.,  1873-79,  I.  l883.  P-  438  (Wisconsin). 

Jaculus  labradorius  KENNICOTT,  Agr.  Rept.  for  1856,  U.  S.  Patent  Office  Rept., 
1857.  P-  95  (Illinois). 

Zapus  hudsonius  COUES  &  ALLEN,  Monog.  N.  Amer.  Rodentia,  1877,  p.  476 
(Cook  Co.,  Illinois).  HERRICK,  Geol.  &  Nat.  Hist.  Surv.  Minn.,  Bull.  No.  7, 
1892,  p.  218  (Minnesota).  OSBORN,  Proc.  Iowa  Acad.  Sci.,  1887-89  (1890), 
p.  43  (Iowa).  EVERMANN  &  BUTLER,  Proc.  Ind.  Acad.  Sci.,  1893  (1894),  p.  125 
(Indiana).  PREBLE,  N.  Amer.  Fauna,  No.  15,  1899,  p.  15  (Indiana,  Wisconsin, 
Michigan,  Minnesota,  Ontario).  MILLER,  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  XXVIII, 
1897,  p.  9  (North  Bay  and  Nepigon,  Ontario).  SNYDER,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist. 
Soc.,  II,  1902,  p.  116  (Wisconsin).  ADAMS,  Rept.  State  Board  Geol.  Surv. 
Mich.,  1905  (1906),  p.  129  (Michigan).  JACKSON,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc., 
VI,  1908,  p.  24  (Wisconsin).  HOLLISTER,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  VI,  1908, 
p.  140  (Wisconsin).  HAHN,  Ann.  Rept.  Dept.  Geol.  &  Nat.  Resources  Ind., 
1908  (1909),  p.  528  (Indiana).  EVERMANN  &  CLARK,  Proc.  Wash.  Acad.  Sci., 
XIII,  1911,  p.  25  (Indiana). 

Type  locality  —  Hudson  Bay. 

Distribution  —  From  Hudson  Bay  to  New  Jersey,  and  in  the  mountains 
to  North  Carolina,  west  through  Ohio,  Indiana,  and  greater  portion 
of  Illinois  to  Missouri  and  Minnesota.  Intergrades  with  ameri- 
canus in  the  southeastern  portion  of  its  range,  and  with  campestris 
near  the  edge  of  the  Great  Plains. 

Description  —  Body  about  the  size  of  the  Common  House  Mouse,  but 
hind  legs  elongated  and  tail  noticeably  long  and  slender;  top  of 
head  and  back  dark  ochraceous  brown;  sides  of  body  tawny  or 
yellowish  brown  mixed  with  darker  hairs;  under  parts  and  feet 
white  or  whitish,  usually  a  clear  yellowish  brown  line  separating 
the  color  of  the  sides  of  the  body  from  the  white  of  the  under  parts ; 
tail  dark  above,  whitish  beneath;  a  dusky  mask  near  nose  at  base 
of  the  whiskers. 

Measurements  —  Total  length,  7.50  to  8.50  in.  (190  to  215  mm.);  tail 
vertebrae,  4.50  to  5.25  in.  (115  to  133  mm.);  hind  foot,  1.15  to 
1.24  in.  (29.5  to  31  mm.). 


248     FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        249 

The  Hudson  Bay  Jumping  Mouse  is  found  within  our  limits  from 
northern  Illinois  northward  throughout  Wisconsin.  I  have  examined 
specimens  from  Lake  and  Jo  Daviess  counties,  Illinois,  and  from  Vilas, 
Burnett,  Marinette,  Pierce,  Dodge  and  Rock  counties,  Wisconsin. 
Hollister  records  it  from  Racine  and  Walworth  counties  (/.  c.,  p.  140), 
and  Jackson  from  Oneida  County,  Wisconsin,  and  it  undoubtedly 
occurs  throughout  the  state. 

This  curious  Mouse  inhabits  both  fields  and  woodland  and  I  have 
seen  it  in  bogs,  although  on  the  whole  it  seems  to  like  brush  grown 
places  along  fences  and  bordering  timber.  It  is  well  named,  for,  when 
frightened,  it  makes  a  series  of  surprisingly  long  jumps,  a  distance  of 
ten  feet  at  a  single  leap  being  by  no  means  unusual,  and  to  a  person 
who  sees  one  of  these  little  animals  for  the  first  time,  its  activity  is 
astonishing.  Suddenly  from  almost  under  his  feet  it  goes  flying  through 
the  air,  barely  touching  the  ground  before  it  is  up  again  with  the  seem- 
ing resiliency  of  a  rubber  ball,  and  the  next  moment  it  has  disappeared 
in  the  bushes. 

It  makes  a  nest  in  burrows  in  the  ground,  under  logs,  and  in  hollow 
trees  and  stumps.  In  summer  it  also  constructs  a  rounded  nest  which 
is  concealed  behind  rocks  or  under  bushes  and  thick  grass.  These 
nests  are  usually  about  4  or  5  inches  in  diameter,  the  entrance  being 
a  hole  at  one  side.  The  young  are  from  3  to  6  in  number.  This 
species  hibernates  in  winter  in  this  latitude.  Preble  states  that  during 
the  cold  weather  they  are  generally  found  singly,  although  sometimes 
in  pairs,  in  nests  in  holes  in  the  ground,  which  vary  from  a  few  inches 
to  three  feet  below  the  surface.  He  says,  "They  lie  rolled  up  like  a 
ball  with  the  feet  close  together  and  the  tail  curled  about  them.  If 
removed  from  the  nest  and  subjected  to  a  moderate  degree  of  heat, 
they  revive  and  in  the  course  of  a  few  hours  move  about  freely,  but 
generally  resume  their  lethargic  state  if  again  exposed  to  cold.  The 
pulse  and  respiration  are  very  slow"  (I.e.,  p.  9).  He  also  states  that 
these  animals  sometimes  hibernate  in  a  nest  above  ground. 

Kennicott  says,  "Dr  Hoy  informs  me  that  when  he  was  a  boy,  in 
digging  out  a  rabbit  in  winter,  he  found  a  pair  of  this  species  in  a  state 
of  profound  torpor,  exhibiting  all  the  phenomena  of  perfect  hibernation. 
They  were  in  a  large  nest  of  leaves  situated  two  or  three  feet  below  the 
surface"  (I.e.,  p.  97). 

An  interesting  article  on  the  hibernation  of  the  Jumping  Mouse  in 

Indiana  is  given  by  Professor  Sanborn  Tenney.*     He  says,  "On  the 

i8th  of  January  of  the  present  year  (1872),  I  went  with  Dr.  A.  Patton 

of  Vincennes,  Indiana,  to  visit  a  mound  situated  about  a  mile  or  a  mile 

*  Amer.  Nat.,  VI,  1872,  p.  330. 


250     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

and  a  half  in  an  easterly  direction  from  Vincennes.  While  digging  in 
a  mound  in  search  of  relics  that  might  throw  light  upon  its  origin  and 
history,  we  came  to  a  nest  about  two  feet  below  the  surface  of  the 
ground,  carefully  made  of  bits  of  grass,  and  in  this  nest  was  a  Jumping 
Mouse  (Jaculus  Hudsonius  Baird)  apparently  dead.  It  was  coiled 
up  as  tightly  as  it  could  be,  the  nose  being  placed  upon  the  belly,  and 
the  long  tail  coiled  around  the  ball-like  form  which  the  animal  had 
assumed.  I  took  the  little  mouse  in  my  hand.  It  exhibited  no  motion 
or  sign  of  life.  Its  eyes  and  mouth  were  shut  tight,  and  its  little  fore 
feet  or  hands  were  shut  and  placed  close  together.  Everything  in- 
dicated that  the  mouse  was  perfectly  dead,  except  the  fact  that  it  was 
not  as  rigid  as  perhaps  a  dead  mouse  would  be  in  the  winter.  I  tied 
the  mouse  and  nest  in  my  handkerchief  and  carried  them  to  Vincennes. 
Arriving  at  Dr.  Patton's  office  I  untied  my  treasures,  and  took  out 
the  mouse  and  held  it  for  some  time  in  my  hand;  it  still  exhibited  no 
sign  of  life ;  but  at  length  I  thought  I  saw  a  slight  movement  in  one  of 
the  hind  legs.  Presently  there  was  a  very  slight  movement  of  the 
head,  yet  so  feeble  that  one  could  hardly  be  sure  it  was  real.  Then  there 
came  to  be  some  evidence  of  breathing,  and  a  slight  pressure  of  my 
fingers  upon  the  tail  near  the  body  was  followed  by  an  immediate  but 
feeble  movement  of  one  of  the  hind  legs.  At  length  there  was  unmistak- 
able evidence  that  the  animal  was  breathing,  but  the  breathing  was 
a  labored  action,  and  seemingly  performed  with  great  difficulty.  As 
the  mouse  became  warmer  the  signs  of  life  became  more  and  more 
marked;  and  in  the  course  of  the  same  afternoon  on  which  I  brought  it 
into  the  warm  room  it  became  perfectly  active,  and  was  as  ready  to 
jump  about  as  any  other  number  of  its  species. 

"I  put  this  mouse, into  a  little  tin  box  with  holes  in  the  cover,  and 
took  him  with  me  in  my  journeyings,  taking  care  to  put  in  the  box  a 
portion  of  an  ear  of  corn  and  pieces  of  paper.  It  ate  the  corn  by 
gnawing  from  the  outside  of  the  kernel,  and  it  gnawed  the  paper  into 
bits  with  which  it  made  a  nest.  On  the  fourth  day  after  its  capture 
I  gave  it  water  which  it  seemed  to  relish.  On  the  23d  of  January  I 
took  it  with  me  to  Elgin,  Illinois,  nearly  three  hundred  miles  farther 
north  than  the  region  where  I  found  the  specimen.  The  weather  was 
intensely  cold.  Taking  the  mouse  from  the  box,  I  placed  it  on  a  news- 
paper on  a  table,  and  covered  it  with  a  large  glass  bell,  lifting  the  edge 
of  the  glass  so  as  to  admit  a  supply  of  air.  Under  this  glass  was  placed 
a  good  supply  of  waste  cotton.  Soon  after  it  was  fairly  established  in 
its  new  and  more  commodious  quarters,  it  began  to  clean  every  part 
of  its  body  in  the  most  thorough  manner,  washing  itself  very  much 
in  the  same  manner  as  a  cat  washes.  On  coming  to  the  tail  it  passed 


FEB.,  1912.    MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        251 

that  long  member,  for  its  whole  length,  through  the  mouth  from  side 
to  side,  beginning  near  the  body  and  ending  at  the  tip.  At  night  as 
soon  as  the  lights  were  put  out  the  mouse  began  gnawing  the  paper, 
and  during  the  night  it  gnawed  all  the  newspapers  it  could  reach,  and 
made  the  fragments  and  the  cotton  into  a  large  nest  perhaps  five  or 
six  inches  in  diameter,  and  established  itself  in  the  centre.  Here  it 
spent  the  succeeding  day.  The  next  night  it  was  supplied  with  more 


Map  illustrating  approximate  distribution  of  the  Jumping  Mice  belonging  to  the  genus  Zapus 
in  eastern  United  States. 

Zapus  hudsonius  (ZIMMERMANN).     Type  locality  —  Hudson  Bay.     Description  as 

previously  given. 

Zapus  h.  campestris  PREBLE.     (N.  Amer.  Fauna,  No.  15,  1899,  p.  20.)     Type  lo- 
cality —  Bear  Lodge  Mountains,  Wyoming.     Similar  to  hudsonius  but  slightly 

larger,  brighter  in  color  and  brain-case  higher. 
Zapus  h.  americanus  (BARTON).     (Trans.  Amer.  Philos.  Soc.,  IV,  1799,  p.  115.) 

Type  locality  —  Near  Philadelphia,  Penn.     Smaller  than  hudsonius,  with  color 

of  dorsal  area  less  distinctly  marked. 
Zapus  h.  ladas  BANGS.     (Proc.  N.  Eng.  Zool.  Club,  I,  1899,  p.  10.)     Type  locality  — 

Rigoulette,   Hamilton  Inlet,   Labrador.     Larger  and  darker  than  hudsonius-, 

with  longer  tail  and  hind  foot. 


252     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

paper,  and  it  gnawed  all  it  could  reach,  and  thus  spent  a  large  part 
of  the  night  in  work.  I  could  hear  the  work  going  on  when  I  was  awake. 
In  the  morning  it  appeared  to  be  reposing  on  the  top  of  its  nest;  but 
after  watching  it  for  some  time,  and  seeing  no  motion,  I  lifted  up  the 
glass  and  took  the  mouse  in  my  hand.  It  showed  no  signs  of  life.  I 
now  felt  that  perhaps  my  pet  was  indeed  really  dead;  but  remember- 
ing what  I  had  previously  seen,  I  resolved  to  try  to  restore  it  again  to 
activity.  By  holding  it  in  my  hand  and  thus  warming  it,  the  mouse 
soon  began  to  show  signs  of  life,  and  although  it  was  nearly  the  whole 
day  in  coming  back  to  activity,  at  last  it  was  as  lively  as  ever,  and 
afterward,  on  being  set  free  in  the  room  it  moved  about  so  swiftly  by 
means  of  its  long  leaps,  that  it  required  two  of  us  a  long  time  to  capture 
it  uninjured." 

Describing  the  habits  of  the  Jumping  Mouse  in  northern  Illinois, 
Kennicott  says:  "It  is  not  very  prolific  and  is  nowhere  numerous.  In 
northern  Illinois  it  is  found  in  the  deepest  woods,  as  well  as  in  cultivated 
fields,  and  on  the  prairie  at  a  distance  from  any  timber.  In  the  woods 
it  is  often  found  nesting  in  situations  similar  to  those  occupied  by 
the  Mus  leucopus.  It  cannot  climb  but  crawls  up  the  inside  of  hollow 
trees  to  a  considerable  height  from  the  ground,  and  is  sometimes  found 
nesting  in  them;  but  its  nest  is  often  discovered  under  the  bark  of 
rotten  trees  or  stumps  and,  though  not  much  noticed  when  inhabiting 
these  situations,  it  appears  frequently,  if  not  generally,  to  live  in 
burrows  in  the  ground,  as  it  nearly  always  does  in  the  fields,  and  on 
the  prairies  of  course.  It  digs  readily.  Its  burrow  in  summer  is  not 
deep,  and  the  nest  is  sometimes  found  in  a  tuft  of  grass  above  the 
surface,  or  under  an  inverted  sod.  In  cultivated  fields,  it  lives  under 
fences  and,  like  the  mice  and  arvicolas,  takes  up  its  abode  in  grain  that 
has  been  cut  and  left  standing  out. 

"The  food  of  this  species  appears  to  consist  chiefly  of  herbaceous 
plants,  with  their  seeds,  and  the  seeds  and  nuts  of  trees  when  it  inhabits 
the  woods.  In  cultivated  fields,  it  devours  grain,  of  which  it  has 
sometimes  been  observed  to  collect  stores  in  its  burrows"  (1.  c.,  p.  96). 

Specimens  examined  from  Illinois,  Wisconsin  and  adjoining  states: 
Illinois  —  Fox  Lake,  3 ;  Galena,  Jo  Daviess  Co.,  3  =  6. 
Wisconsin  —  Beaver  Dam,  Dodge  Co.,  5;  Conover,  Vilas  Co.,  i;  (S.  C.) 

Beaver  Dam,  Dodge  Co.,  12  =  18. 
Michigan  —  Dowagiac,  Cass  Co.,  2. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        253 

Napaeozapus  insignis  (MILLER).  WOODLAND  JUMPING  MOUSE.  As 
has  been  previously  stated,  the  Woodland  Jumping  Mouse  may  be 
looked  for  in  northern  Wisconsin,  for,  although  it  has  not  as  yet  been 
found  within  our  limits,  it  has  been  taken  in  northwestern  Michigan.* 
The  white  tipped  tail  and  absence  of  the  small  upper  premolar  will 
distinguish  it  from  Z.  hudsonius. 


Family  ERETHIZONTID^.      American 
Porcupines. 

The  American  Porcupines  are  short  legged,  slow-moving  animals, 
with  a  thick  body  covering  of  hair  mixed  with  quills  or  spines.  They 
differ  from  the  Old  World  Porcupines  in  having  perfect  clavicles;  the 
skull  somewhat  different  shaped;  tuberculate  soles  of  feet;  absence 
of  a  pollex,  etc.;  and  the  quills  are  also  much  smaller.  They  are  large- 
ly arboreal  in  habits.  The  quills  or  spines  are  loosely  attached  and 
fall  out  easily,  but  the  animal  is  not  able  to  forcibly  eject  them,  and 
the  legend  of  the  Porcupine  "shooting"  its  quills  is,  of  course,  absurd.f 
Five  species  and  subspecies  belonging  to  a  single  genus  (Erethizon) 
are  recognized  in  North  America.  Other  genera  belonging  to  this 
family  occur  in  Central  and  South  America,  and  have  long  prehensile 
tails. 

*  Porcupine  Mountains  —  Adams,  Kept.  State  Board  Geol.  Surv.  Mich.,  1905 
(1906),  p.  129. 

t  This  fable  is  of  ancient  origin,  being  mentioned  by  Solinus,  Paulus  Venetus 
and  others  in  their  accounts  of  the  Old  World  Porcupine  and  gravely  endorsed  by 
Topsell  and  other  subsequent  compilers.  Edward  Topsell  says,  "When  they  are 
hunted  the  beast  stretcheth  his  skin,  and  casteth  the  off,  one  or  two  at  a  time, 
according  to  necessity  upon  the  mouths  of  the  Dogs,  or  Legs  of  the  Hunters  that 
follow  her,  with  such  violence  that  many  times  they  stick  into  trees"  (Historic  of 
Foure  Footed  Beastes,  1607,  p.  588). 

We  can  readily  understand  how  early  explorers  in  America  would  credit  the 
American  Porcupine  with  equal  ability  and  thus  have  planted  the  seeds  from  which 
has  grown  a  similar  superstition  regarding  our  species.  Josselyn  did  not  hesitate 
in  doing  so,  describing  our  species  as  "a  very  Angry  Creature,  and  dangerous,  shoot- 
ting  a  whole  shower  of  Quills  with  a  rowfe  at  their  enemies."  (New  England  Rarities, 
1672,  p.  17.) 


254    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 

Subfamily  ERETHIZONTIN^. 
Genus  ERETHIZON  F.  Cuvier. 

Erethizon  F.  Cuvier,  Mem.  Mus.  Hist.  Nat.  Paris,  IX,  1822,  p.  436. 

Type  Hystrix  dorsata  Linn. 

Body  covered  with  hair  mixed  with  quills  or  spines  on  back  and 
sides,  the  spines  loosely  attached  to  the  skin;  tail  short,  thickly  spiny 
and  non-prehensile;  toes  four  in  front  and  five  behind,  armed  with 
strong  curved  claws;  ears  short;  mammas  4,  all  pectoral;  cagcum  long;  * 
the  gall  bladder  apparently  absent;  skull  with  facial  portion  short; 
a  horizontal  process  of  the  maxillary  extends  outward,  joining  the 
zygoma  forming  a  large  antorbital  vacuity  and  having  the  appearance 
of  a  second  zygoma  (see  fig.  6,  p.  96) ;  auditory  meatus  with  protrud- 
ing edge;  crowns  of  molars  with  enamel  folds  and  more  or  less  com- 
pletely rooted;  tibia  and  fibula  separate  and  not  anchylosed  below. 

Dental  formula:  I.  --  —  >  C.— -,  Pm.  - — -,  M.  ^— ~=  20. 
i-i         o-o  i-i          3-3 

Erethizon  dorsatum  (LINN.). 
CANADA  PORCUPINE. 

[Hystrix]  dorsata  LINNAEUS,  Syst.  Nat.,  X  ed.,  I,  1858,  p.  57. 

Hystrix  Hudsonius  LAPHAM,  Trans.  Wis.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  II,  1852  (1853),  p.  340 
(Wisconsin).  RAYMOND,  Rept.  Geol.  Surv.  Ind.,  1869,  p.  208  (Indiana). 

Erethizon  dorsatus  KENNICOTT,  Agr.  Rept.  for  1857,  U.  S.  Patent  Office  Rept.,  1858, 
p.  91  (Illinois,  Indiana).  MILES,  Rept.  Geol.  Surv.  Mich.,  I,  1860  (1861),  p.  221 
(Michigan).  HERRICK,  Geol.  &  Nat.  Hist.  Surv.  Minn.,  Bull.  No.  7,  1892,  p.  246 
(Minnesota).  EVERMANN  &  BUTLER.  Proc.  Ind.  Acad.  Sci.,  1893  (1894),  P-  I25 
(Indiana). 

Hystrix  dorsata  STRONG,  Geol.  Wis.,  Surv.  1873-79,  1883,  p.  440  (Wisconsin). 

Erethizon  dorsatum  ADAMS,  Rept.  State  Board  Geol.  Surv.  Mich.,  1905  (1906),  p.  129 
(Michigan).  JACKSON,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  VI,  1908,  p.  24  (Wisconsin). 
HAHN,  Ann.  Rept.  Dept.  Geol.  &  Nat.  Resources  Ind.,  1908  (1909),  p.  530 
(Indiana).  EVERMANN  &  CLARK,  Proc.  Wash.  Acad.  Sci.,  XIII,  1911,  p.  2 
(Indiana). 

Type  locality  —  Eastern  Canada. 

Distribution  —  At  present,  northern  North  America  south  to  Maine, 
the  mountains  of  Pennsylvania,  northern  Michigan,  Wisconsin  and 
Minnesota.  Formerly  its  range  extended  south  to  Indiana. 

Description  —  Hair  on  upper  parts  mixed  with  quills  or  spines ;  general 
color  dark  brown  to  nearly  black,  often  mixed  with  yellowish  white 
hairs ;  hair  of  upper  parts  long,  nearly  or  quite  concealing  the  quills 

*  Beddard  gives  the  length  of  the  caecum  in  Erethizon  as  2  feet  4  inches  (Mam- 
malia, 1902,  p.  499). 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        255 

except  on  the  lower  back,  hips,  and  sides  of  base  of  tail  where  they 

are  longest;  quills  blackish  at  tip,  whitish  at  base,  the  largest  ones 

having  a  length  of  from  3  to  4  inches,  they  lie  flat  but  can  be  erected 

by  muscular  contraction;  incisors  deep  orange. 
Measurements  —  Total  length,  about  35  in.  (890  mm.);  tail,  5.50  to 

6.50  in.  (152  mm.);  hind  foot,  3.50  in.  (90  mm.). 

At  the  present  time  the  range  of  the  Porcupine  within  our  limits 
is  restricted  to  northern  Wisconsin,  but  in  early  days  it  probably 
extended  considerably  farther  south.  Porcupines  are  still  common 
in  the  forested  regions  from  Marathon  County,  Wisconsin,  northward, 
and  individuals  are  occasionally  seen  in  Wood,  Jackson,  Clark  and 
Buffalo  counties,  which  appear  to  be  about  the  southern  limits  of 
their  present  range  in  the  state. 

I  have  been  unable  to  find  any  satisfactory  proof  of  its  occurrence 
in  Illinois,  although  in  early  days  it  is  not  unlikely  that  it  may  have 
inhabited  some  of  the  northern  counties.  Kennicott  writes,  "I  am 
not  aware  that  it  has  been  observed  in  northern  Illinois,  although  it 
is  said  to  inhabit  Whiteside  County  and  the  banks  of  the  Illinois  River  " 
(/.  c.,  p.  91).  I  have  been  informed  that  years  ago  it  was  occasionally 
found  in  Jo  Daviess  County,  but  upon  investigation  the  evidence 
proved  unsatisfactory.  Nevertheless,  Mr.  Edward  Grimm  of  Galena 
writes  me,  he  believes  it  was  formerly  found  in  that  county.  In  Indiana, 
however,  its  range  is  known  to  have  extended  to  the  southern  portion 
of  the  state,  and  it  was  apparently  not  uncommon  in  several  of  the 
extreme  western  counties  in  close  proximity  to  Illinois.  The  Prince 
of  Wied  states  that  it  was  rare  in  Posey  County  at  the  time  of  his 
visit  to  New  Harmony  in  1832.  Evermann  and  Butler  cite  numerous 
records  for  Indiana,  the  latest  being  a  specimen  taken  in  Grant  County, 
in  1892  (/.  c.,  p.  125);  but  Hahn  believes  it  probably  survived  along 
the  Kankakee  River  a  few  years  later  (/.  c.,  p.  532).  Mr.  E.  J.  Chansler 
of  Bicknell,  Indiana,  writes  me  that  old  men  told  him  Porcupines  were 
common  in  Knox  County  in  early  days,  and  that  Mr.  T.  F.  Chambers 
saw  one  near  Chambers  Pond  in  that  county  in  1864.  There  are  two 
specimens  in  the  State  Museum  at  Indianapolis  claimed  to  have  been 
taken  in  Laporte  County,  Indiana,  but  the  date  is  not  given.  Dr.  John 
T.  Plummer  states  that  several  Porcupines  were  killed  in  the  suburbs 
of  Richmond,  Wayne  County,  Indiana,  and  that  he  had  a  fine  speci- 
men in  his  collection  captured  near  the  town  (Amer.  Journ.  Sci.  & 
Arts,  XLVI,  1844,  p.  248). 

The  Porcupine  is  an  inhabitant  of  the  forests  and  spends  the  greater 
part  of  its  time  in  trees.  When  on  the  ground  its  movements  are  slow 
and  clumsy,  and  it  appears  to  have  little  fear  of  man,  which  often  leads 
to  its  undoing,  as  its  sharp  pointed  quills,  which  are  held  in  great 


256     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        257 

respect  by  predatory  animals,  afford  no  defense  against  a  rifle  or  shot 
gun.  While  largely  nocturnal  in  habits,  it  often  goes  about  in  the  day- 
time, and  I  have  met  with  it  on  several  occasions  in  the  north  woods, 
generally  perched  in  a  tree,  calmly  eating  a  late  breakfast  and,  aside 
from  an  occasional  glance  in  my  direction,  paying  no  attention  to  me 
whatever.  If  approached  too  closely,  however,  it  "bristles  up," 
elevating  its  quills  and  shaking  its  tail  angrily,  a  warning  which  it  is 
well  to  heed,  for,  although  contrary  to  a  popular  superstition,  the 
animal  cannot  eject  its  quills,  it  can  strike  a  hard  blow  with  its  armed 
tail,  and  the  sharp  quills,  which  are  loosely  held  in  the  skin,  are  fur- 
nished with  minute  barbs  near  the  ends  and  make  a  painful  wound. 

Porcupines  vary  considerably  in  size,  the  average  weight  of  a  full 
grown  male  being  probably  about  16  or  18  pounds.  A  large  one  which 
I  killed  weighed  23  pounds,  but  Rhoads  states  they  occasionally,  when 
fat,  reach  a  weight  of  35  or  40  pounds.*  Their  favorite  food  seems  to 
be  the  leaves,  twigs  and  bark  of  the  hemlock,  but  they  also  eat  the  leaves 
and  bark  of  the  maple,  bass-wood,  birch  and  other  trees  when  those 
they  prefer  are  not  available.  In  spring  and  summer  their  food  is 
more  varied  and  they  eat  the  leaves  of  various  plants,  but  show  a 
partiality  to  lily-pads.  Beechnuts  are  also  included  in  their  bill-of- 
fare,  and  Dr.  Merriam  states  he  has  killed  several  whose  stomachs  were 
distended  with  beechnut  meal.f  In  Canada  and  in  the  northern 
portion  of  Michigan  and  Wisconsin  they  frequent  the  vicinity  of  lum- 
ber camps  and  show  a  decided  fondness  for  any  substance  which  has  a 
salty  flavor,  such  as  old  pork  rinds,  and  they  have  often  been  known 
to  gnaw  to  pieces  old  butter  firkins  and  boxes  which  have  contained 
salty  food  of  any  kind. 

The  Porcupine  makes  a  variety  of  noises,  the  most  familiar  being 
a  low  whine  and  grunt.  Audubon  and  Bachman  state  that  at  night 
it  occasionally  utters  "a  shrill  note  which  might  be  called  a  low  querulous 
shriek. "{ 

The  young  are  born  about  the  first  of  May  and  are  generally  two 
in  number,  although  a  litter  often  consists  of  one  and  sometimes  three. 
At  birth  they  are  very  large,  compared  to  the  relative  size  of  other 
young  animals.  Dr.  Merriam  says,  "They  are  actually  larger  and 
relatively  more  than  thirty  times  larger  than  the  young  of  the  black 
bear  at  birth."§ 

In  early  days  the  quills  of  the  Porcupine  were  much  used  by  In- 
dians in  ornamenting  baskets  and  embroidering  skin  garments,  moc- 

*  Mamm.  Penn.,  1903,  p.  118. 

t  Mamm.  Adirondack  Reg.,  1886,  p.  302. 

t  Aud.  &  Bach.,  Quadrupeds  of  N.  Amer.,  I,  1846,  p.  283. 

§  Mamm.  Adirondack  Reg.,  1886,  p.  305. 


258     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

casins,  etc.  They  were  split  and  dyed  a  variety  of  colors  with  roots, 
barks  and  berries,  some  of  these  garments,  especially  those  worn  by 
chiefs,  having  been  very  elaborate  and  highly  prized. 

Albinistic  examples  of  this  animal  are  occasionally  taken.     There 
is  an  entirely  white  specimen  in  the  Field  Museum  collection. 

Specimens  examined  from  Wisconsin: 
Sayner,   2;  Rummeles  (skull),   i;    (S.  C.)   Marshfield,  Wood  Co.,    i; 

Clark  Co.,  i;   (0.)  Woodruff,  Vilas  Co.,  2;  Oconto  Co.,  1  =  8. 


Map  illustrating  approximate  range  of  the  Canada  Porcupine  (Erethizon  dorsatuni)  in  eastern 
United  States  and  Canada. 


Suborder  DUPLICIDENTATA. 

This  suborder  comprises  two  families,  the  Leporida  or  true  Hares 
and  Rabbits;  and  the  Ochotonidce  containing  Picas  or  Tailless  Hares 
sometimes  called  Chief  Hares  —  small  animals  inhabiting  mountain 
regions,  several  species  of  which  occur  in  western  North  America  but 
not  within  our  limits.  The  members  of  the  suborder  are  characterized 
by  having  two  pairs  of  permanent  upper  incisors,*  the  inner  ones  very 
small  and  placed  directly  behind  the  others ;  the  enamel  of  the  incisors 
is  continuous  and  not  confined  to  the  front  of  the  teeth ;  the  tibia  and 
fibula  are  united,  being  anchylosed  below;  clavicles  are  present  (com- 
plete in  Ochotonida  but  incomplete  in  Leporidai);  incisive  foramina 
of  the  palate  large  and  usually  confluent;  bony  palate  short,  being 
reduced  to  a  narrow  bridge  between  the  premolars;  postorbital  proc- 
esses very  large  in  Leporida  but  absent  in  Ochotonidce;  testes  external. 

*  At  birth  there  are  three  pairs  but  the  outer  one  on  each  side  is  soon  lost. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        259 


Family  LEPORID^E.      Hares  and  Rabbits. 

The  family  is  nearly  cosmopolitan,  various  species  being  found  in 
North  and  South  America,  Europe,  Asia  and  Africa,  and  of  late  years 
in  Australia  where  it  has  been  introduced.  Representatives  of  the 
family  thrive  equally  well  in  the  tropics  and  in  the  cold  regions  of  the 
North,  the  range  of  one  species  extending  far  beyond  the  Arctic  Circle 
where  few  other  mammals  can  exist. 

In  the  Hares  and  Rabbits  the  skull  is  large  and  compressed  behind ; 
the  supraorbital  prominent,  the  posterior  process  (postorbital  process) 

being  often  more 
or  less  fused  to  the 
skull;  the  infra- 
orbit  a  foramen 
small  land  con- 
fined to  lower  por- 
tion of  maxilla; 
the  incisive  fora- 
mina large,  and 
the  greater  portion 
of  zygoma  nearly 
straight.  The  max- 
illary bones  curi- 
ously pitted  and 
perforated;  the 
upper  incisors  sul- 
cate;  cheek  teeth  rootless;  acromion  process  of  scapula  forked; 
mammae  numerous,  usually  five  pairs;  uterus  completely  double; 
clavicles  present  but  incomplete;  and  the  tibia  and  fibula  united. 
The  wrists  cannot  be  turned  as  in  the  Squirrels  to  enable  the  animal 
to  hold  food  to  its  mouth  while  eating;  cheek  pouches  absent,  but 
the  inside  of  mouth  partly  furry.  They  have  unusually  long  hind 
legs  and  ears;  the  soles  of  the  feet  are  covered  with  fur.  The  tail  is 
short,  the  eyes  large,  and  the  upper  lip  is  deeply  cleft,  giving  rise  to 
the  expression  "hare  lip"  to  describe  a  human  ailment.*  The  dental 

-1  —  -2  7  —  7 

formula  is  as  follows:    Milk  dentition,    I.  - — **  Dm.  - — -=18;   per- 


Skull  of  a  Rabbit. 


I-I 


2-2 


*  This  is  of  ancient  origin.  Topsell  says,  "The  lippes  continually  move  sleeping 
and  waking,  and  from  the  slit  which  they  have  in  the  middle  of  their  nose,  commeth 
the  term  of  hare-lips"  (Historie  of  Foure  Footed  Beastes,  Lond.,  1607,  p.  265). 


260     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 

manent  dentition,  I.  ^'  Pm.  2Zl»  M.  ^=  28. 
i-i  2-2          3-3 

While  the  names,  Hares  and  Rabbits,  are  often  indiscriminately 
applied  to  members  of  the  family,  the  first  is  properly  restricted  to 
those  which  do  not  use  burrows  in  the  ground  and  the  young  of  which 
are  born  covered  with  hair  and  with  their  eyes  open.  Rabbits,  on  the 
contrary,  use  burrows  and  holes  in  the  earth*  and  the  young  are  born 
naked,  with  their  eyes  closed.  Hares  and  Rabbits  are  very  prolific. 
In  many  cases  the  young  animals  begin  to  breed  when  about  six  months 
old.  The  young  number  from  4  to  6  and  it  is  claimed  that  two  or  more 
litters  are  born  in  a  season. 

In  ancient  times  the  Hare  was  thought  to  be  of  great  therapeutic 
value,  and  Avicenna  (1608),  Arnoldus,  Topsell  and  others  recommend 
the  use  of  various  parts  of  its  body  as  a  cure  for  a  long  list  of  human 
ailments  ranging  from  tuberculosis  to  alopecia.  Regarding  the  treat 
ment  of  the  latter,  Topsell  says:  "The  powder  of  the  wooll  of  a  Hare 
burned,  mingled  with  the  oyle  of  Mirtles,  the  gal  of  a  Bull,  and  Allum 
warmed  at  the  fire  and  annoint  it  uppon  the  heade,  fasteneth  the  haire 
from  falling  off.  .  .  .  The  head  of  a  Hare  burned  and  mingled  with  fat 
of  Beares  and  vinegar,  causeth  haire  to  come  where  it  is  fallen  off,  and 
Gallen  saith  that  some  have  used  the  whole  body  of  a  Hare  so  burned 
and  mingled,  for  the  foresaid  cure,  being  layed  in  manner  of  a 
plaister."  (Historic  Foure  Footed  Beastes,  Lond.,  1607,  p.  274.) 

The  Hare  (and  Rabbitf)  has  always  played  an  important  part 
in  mythology  and  folklore. J  Even  at  the  present  day  the  animal  is 
popularly  associated  with  paschal  eggs  as  symbolic  of  the  festival  of 
Easter;  and  there  is  a  wide  spread  superstition,  especially  among 
negroes,  that  the  left  hind  foot  of  a  Rabbit  taken  under  certain  con- 
ditions is  of  great  value  as  a  talisman.§ 

*  The  European  Rabbit  digs  burrows,  as  do  their  domestic  descendents  in  this 
country,  but  with  rare  exceptions  indigenous  North  American  species  do  not.  They 
use  holes,  however,  made  by  other  animals  and  often  enlarge  them. 

t  Hares  and  Rabbits  are  apparently  considered  identical  in  Zoological  Mythol- 
ogy. 

J  See  Gubernatis,  Zool.  Mythol.,  London,  1872;  also  Massey,  The  Natural  Gen- 
esis, London,  1883. 

§  There  is  a  curious  superstition  among  negroes  in  many  parts  of  the  United 
States  regarding  the  efficacy  of  the  "left  hind  foot  of  a  graveyard  rabbit  killed  in  the 
dark  of  the  moon"  in  bringing  good  fortune  to  its  possessor. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        261 
KEY  TO  THE  GENERA. 

A.  Interparietal  not  distinct  in  adult;  postorbital  process  usually  nearly  or  quite 

divergent  from  skull;  hind  foot,  5  or  more  inches  long;    our  species  turn 
white  in  winter.  Genus  LEPUS,  p.  261. 

B.  Interparietal  distinct  in  adult;  postorbital  process  more  or  less  attached  to  the 

skull;  hind  foot,  about  4  inches  long  in  our  species;  do  not  turn  white  in 
winter.  Genus  SYLVILAGUS,  p.  266. 

(For  other  characters  see  descriptions  of  Genera.) 

KEY  TO  THE   SPECIES 
WHICH   MAY  OCCUR  WITHIN  OUR  LIMITS. 

GROUP  I.  Length  of  ear  from  skull  to  tip  less  than  4  inches. 

Color  changes  from  brownish  in  summer  to  white  in  winter;  tips  of  ears  usually 
edged  with  black;  nape  not  rufous  or  decidedly  different  in  color  from  the 
back;  total  length,  about  17.50  to  18.50  inches;  hind  foot,  5  in.  (or  more); 
tail  vertebrae,  about  1.50  to  1.75  inches.  Occurs  in  northern  Wisconsin  but 
not  in  southern  Wisconsin  or  Illinois. 

VARYING  HARE  or  SNOW-SHOE  RABBIT. 
Lepus  americanus  phtzonotus,  p.  262. 

Rump  distinctly  gray  or  grayish,  noticeably  paler  than  back;  nape  usually  rufous 
brown,  quite  different  from  color  of  back;  tail  vertebrae,  about  2.25  to  2.75 
inches ;  hind  foot,  about  4  inches;  does  not  turn  white  in  winter. 

MEARNS'S  COTTON-TAIL  RABBIT. 
Sylvilagus  floridanus  mearnsii,  p.  266. 

General  color  brown  mixed  with  more  or  less  blackish;  rump  not  distinctly  gray 
or  grayish;  nape  often  tinged  with  rufous  brown  but  not  pronounced  as  in 
mearnsi;  hind  foot,  about  4  inches;  tail,  about  2.75  inches;  does  not  turn 
white  in  winter.  Occurs  in  southern  Illinois  but  not  in  northern  Illinois  or 
Wisconsin.  SWAMP  RABBIT.  Sylvilagus  aquaticus,  p.  271. 

GROUP  2.  Length  of  ear  from  skull  to  tip  more  than  4  inches. 

Ears  with  black  tips;  tail  entirely  white  above  and  below;  entire  length,  in- 
cluding tail,  usually  more  than  21  inches;  tail,  more  than  3.25  inches  long. 
Not  as  yet  recorded  from  Illinois  or  Wisconsin,  but  stragglers  may  occur  in 
the  extreme  western  portion  of  either  state. 

JACK  RABBIT.     Lepus  campestris,  p.  265. 


Genus  LEPUS  Linn. 

Lepus  Linnaeus,  Syst.  Nat.,  X  ed.,  1758,  p.  57.     Type  Lepus  timidus 

Linnaeus. 

Hind  legs  very  long;  ears  long;  tail  well  developed;  fore  feet  with 
five  toes ;  hind  feet  with  four  toes ;  soles  of  feet  covered  with  hair;  clavicle 
imperfect;  interparietal  not  distinct  in  adult;  supraorbitals  prom- 
inent and  wing-like*;  the  posterior  process  (postorbital  process)  usually 

*  See  Fig.  2,  p.  96. 


262     FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

being  entirely  separated  from  the  skull  but  occasionally  the  posterior 
end  is  fused  to  the  skull,  leaving  an  opening  or  foramen;  second  to 
fifth  cervical  vertebrae  longer  than  broad.  This  genus  contains  two 
North  American  subgenera,  Lepus  and  Macrotolagus,  but  only  the 
former  is  represented  within  our  limits. 

Dental  formula:  I.  ^^-,  C.*^-,  Pm. 

-  - 


I-I  O-O  2-2  3-3 

Subgenus  LEPUS  Linn. 
Lepus  americanus  phaeonotus  ALLEN. 
VARYING  HARE.     SNOW-SHOE  RABBIT. 

Lepus  americanus  phtzonotus  ALLEN,  Bull.  Amer.  Mus.  Nat.  Hist.,  XII,  1899,  p.  n. 

JACKSON,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  VI,  1908,  p.  25  (Wisconsin).     Ib.,  VIII, 

1910,  p.  88  (Wisconsin).     NELSON,  N.  Amer.  Fauna,  No.  29,  1909,  p.  95  (Wis- 

consin, Minnesota,  Michigan,  etc.). 
Lepus  americanus   KENNICOTT,  Agr.  Rept.  for   1857,  U.  S.   Patent   Office  Rept., 

1858,  p.  84  (Wisconsin). 
Lepus  Americanus  LAPHAM,  Trans.  Wis.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  II,  1852  (1853),  p.  340 

(Wisconsin).     STRONG,  Geol.  Wis.,  Surv.  1873-79,  I.  l883.  P-  44°  (Wisconsin). 

Type  locality  —  Hallock,  Kittson  Co.,  Minnesota. 

Distribution  —  Northern  Wisconsin  and  the  western  portion  of  the 
Michigan  peninsular,  northern  Minnesota,  southern  Manitoba  and 
a  small  portion  of  western  Ontario. 

Description  —  In  summer:  Upper  parts  brown  and  ochraceous  buff, 
more  or  less  mixed  with  dusky  and  with  indications  of  a  blackish 
line  down  the  middle  of  the  back;  upper  surface  of  tail  brownish 
buff  or  brownish  gray  mixed  with  dusky;  upper  portions  of  legs 
tinged  with  rusty  brown;  ears  narrowly  bordered  with  black,  the 
extreme  edge  on  inner  side  often  whitish;  under  parts,  except 
throat,  white;  throat,  except  extreme  upper  part  and  chin,  brownish 
buff;  upper  portion  of  hind  feet  tawny  buff. 

In  winter:  General  color  pure  white,  except  tips  of  ears, 
bordered  with  black,  and  often  with  the  front  of  the  ears  more  or 
less  tinged  with  brownish  buff.  In  spring  and  fall  it  is  a  parti- 
colored animal,  showing  irregular  markings  of  brown  and  white 
during  the  transition  period,  when  the  semi-annual  molt  of  pelage 
and  change  in  color  takes  place.* 

Measurements  —  Total  length,  about  18  in.  (460  mm.);  tail  vertebrae, 
about  1.50  in.  (38  mm.);  hind  foot,  5.25  in.  (134  mm.). 

*  Dr.  J.  A.  Allen  has  ably  demonstrated  that  this  change  of  color  is  due  to  a 
new  growth  of  hair  each  season  and  not  to  a  change  of  color  in  the  old  pelage  (Bull. 
Amer.  Mus.  Nat.  Hist.,  VI,  1897,  p.  107). 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        263 


264    FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 

The  Varying  Hare,  or  Snow-shoe  Rabbit  as  it  is  often  called,  is 
common  in  northern  Wisconsin,  its  range  being  restricted  to  about 
the  northern  half  of  the  state.  There  are  specimens  in  this  Museum 
from  Douglas  and  Vilas  counties  and  I  have  seen  others  from  Barren, 
Langlade  and  Iron  counties.  Nelson  records  it  from  Bayneld  and 
Douglas  counties,  and  Jackson  gives  it  as  abundant  in  Ashland,  Bay- 
field  and  Douglas  counties  (L  c.,  1910,  p.  88).  Notwithstanding 
the  fact  that  I  have  made  numerous  inquiries  of  a  number  of  hunters 
in  various  parts  of  southern  Wisconsin,  I  have  failed  to  learn  of  its 
occurrence  in  that  portion  of  the  state.  In  early  days,  however,  its 
range  may  have  extended  farther  south,  as  Kennicott  states  it  was 
"not  uncommon  in  central  and  northern  Wisconsin  and  considerable 
numbers  are  found  in  the  southern  part  of  the  state."  He  also  says: 
"It  has  been  stated  that  a  number  were  shot  on  the  present  site  of  the 
City  of  Chicago  in  the  winter  of  1824"  (1.  c.,  p.  85). 

The  Varying  Hare  prefers  a  wooded  country  where  there  are  numer- 
ous thickets  of  dense  undergrowth.  In  winter,  when  the  ground  is 
frozen,  it  seems  to  be  more  numerous  in  swamps  where  there  is  a  heavy 
growth  of  timber.  While  it  may  occasionally  be  seen  in  the  daytime, 
it  feeds  chiefly  at  night  and,  unlike  the  Cotton-tail,  this  species  does 
not  seek  shelter  in  holes  in  the  ground.  The  nest  is  a  mass  of  grass 
covered  with  soft  fur  supplied  by  the  mother.  It  is  usually  well  con- 
cealed under  a  bush  or  in  a  thick  growth  of  weeds,  and  on  one  occasion 

1  found  one  in  the  base  of  a  hollow  tree.     The  young  are  generally 

2  to  4  in  number,  rarely  5  or  6,  and  are  covered  with  hair  when  born, 
and  the  eyes  are  open. 

The  food  of  the  Varying  Hare  consists  largely  of  grasses,  clovers 
and  leaves  of  various  shrubs;  they  also  eat  the  bark  of  young  trees.  In 
settled  districts  they  eat  the  bark  of  fruit  trees  and  grape  vines  and 
often  do  considerable  damage  to  garden  crops. 

The  skins  of  these  animals  are  of  comparatively  little  commercial 
value,  as  they  are  tender  and  easily  torn,  but  they  are  made  into  ex- 
ceedingly warm  blankets  and  robes  by  the  Indians,  who  cut  the  skins 
into  strips  which  they  braid  and  fasten  together.  Such  blankets  are 
much  sought  after  by  hunters  and  prospectors  in  the  far  North. 

Specimens  examined  from  Wisconsin: 

Woodruff,  Vilas  Co.,  2;  Sayner,  Vilas  Co.,  2;  Solon  Springs,  Douglas 
Co.,  8;  Lac  Vieux  Desert,  Vilas  Co.,  i;  (M.  P.  M.)  Eagle. River, 
Vilas  Co.,  i;  (O.  C.)  St.  Croix  River,  Douglas  Co.,  i;  Turtle  Lake, 
Barron  Co.  (skulls),  5;  Mercer,  Iron  Co.  (skull),  i;  Fisher  Lake, 
Iron  Co.,  2  (i  skull);  Langlade  Co.  (skulls),  5=29. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.         265 


Map  illustrating  the  approximate  distribution  of  Varying  Hares  (Lepus  americanus  and  races) 
in  eastern  United  States  and  Canada. 

Lepus  americanus  ERXLEBEN.  (Syst.  Regni  Anim.,  I,  1777,  p.  330.)  Type  lo- 
cality —  Probably  in  the  vicinity  of  Fort  Severn,  Keewatin,  Canada.  In 
summer,  upper  parts  grayish  brown;  less  ochraceous  than  virginianus.  In 
winter,  white.  Total  length,  about  18.50  inches. 

Lepus  a.  struthopus  BANGS.  (Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XII,  1898,  p.  81.)  Type 
locality  —  Digby,  Nova  Scotia,  Canada.  Size  about  the  same  as  americanus, 
but  browner  in  summer  and  ears  longer. 

Lepus  a.  virginianus  (HARLAN).  (Fauna  Amer.,  1825,  p.  196.)  Type  locality  —  Blue 
Mountains,  near  Harrisburg,  Pennsylvania.  Largest  and  most  richly  colored 
of  the  americanus  group;  average  length,  20  inches  or  more. 

Lepus  a.  phaonotus  ALLEN.  Type  locality  —  Hallock,  Kittson  Co.,  Minnesota. 
Paler  and  more  buffy  brown  in  summer  than  americanus,  but  often  showing  a 
slight  tinge  of  rusty;  size  about  the  same.  Description  and  measurements  as 
previously  given. 

Lepus  campestris  BACHMAN,  JACK  RABBIT,  OR  JACKASS  RABBIT,  as 
it  is  popularly  known,  although  not  as  yet  recorded  from  Illinois  or  Wis- 
consin, has  been  taken  in  the  eastern  border  of  Iowa  at  Muscatine, 
and  in  extreme  southeastern  Minnesota  near  Laneboro.  It  may  be 
recognized  by  its  large  size;  its  very  long  black-tipped  ears;  and  its 
long,  entirely  white  tail,  which  has  a  length  of  3.50  or  more  inches,  and 


266    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 

which  will  distinguish  it  from  the  Varying  Hare,  the  only  one  of  our 
species  with  which  it  might  be  confounded. 


Genus  SYLVILAGUS  Gray. 

Sylvilagus  Gray,  Ann.  &  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  3rd  Ser.,  XX,  1867,  p.  221. 

Type  Sylmlagus  floridanus  mallurus  (Thomas) . 

Interparietal  distinct  in  adults;  supraorbital  prominent,  but  the 
postorbital  process  slenderer  and  more  pointed,  and  more  fused  to  the 
skull  than  in  Lepus;  occasionally  the  opening  or  foramen,  usually 
separating  the  middle  portion  of  the  process  from  the  skull,  is  very 
small  or  entirely  absent;  second  to  fourth  cervical  vertebras  with 
dorsal  surface  flattened  and  shorter  than  broad;  only  one  annual  molt; 
does  not  turn  white  in  winter ;  also  other  skeletal  differences  (described 
and  illustrated  by  Nelson,  N.  Amer.  Fauna,  No.  29,  1909,  pp.  39-40). 
Two  subgenera  are  recognized,  Sylmlagus  and  Tapeti. 

Dental  formula:  I.  2-IA  C.  °^,  Pm.  ^^,  M.  £^=  28. 

I-I  O-O  2-2  3-3 

Subgenus   SYLVILAGUS   Gray. 

Brain  case  higher  and  comparatively  broader  and  whole  skull 
relatively  lighter  and  more  slender  than  in  Tapeti;  tail  and  feet  more 
thickly  haired ;  pelage  softer. 

Sylvilagus  floridanus  mearnsii  (ALLEN). 
MEARNS'S  COTTON— TAIL  RABBIT.     GRAY  RABBIT. 

Lepus  sylvaticus  mearnsii  ALLEN,  Bull.  Amer.  Mus.  Nat.  Hist.,  VI,  1894,  p.  171 
(footnote).  ELLIOT,  Field  Columb.  Mus.  Pub.,  Zool.,  I,  1898,  p.  220,  (Iowa). 

Lepus  nanus  LAPHAM,  Trans.  Wis.  State 'Agr.  Soc.,  II,  1852  (1853),  p.  340  (Wis- 
consin). 

Lepus  sylvaticus  KENNICOTT,  Agr.  Rept.  for  1857,  U.  S.  Patent  Office  Rept.,  1858, 

P-  77- 

Sylvilagus  floridanus  mearnsi  SNYDER,  Bull.  Wis".  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  II,  1902,  p.  124 
(Wisconsin).  JACKSON,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  VI,  1908,  p.  25  (Wisconsin). 
Ib.,  VIII,  1910,  p.  89  (Wisconsin).  HAHN,  Ann.  Rept.  Dept.  Geol.  &  Nat. 
Resources  Ind.,  1908  (1909),  p.  534  (Indiana).  NELSON,  N.  Amer.  Fauna, 
No.  29,  1909,  p.  169  (Indiana,  Illinois,  Wisconsin,  Michigan,  Minnesota,  Iowa, 
Kentucky,  Tennessee,  etc.).  HOWELL,  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XXIII,  1910, 
p.  32  (Missouri,  Illinois). 

Type  locality  —  Ft.  Snelling,  Minnesota. 

Distribution  —  From  north-central  Kentucky,  southern  Illinois,  central 
Missouri,  northeast  to  Toronto,  Canada,  and  north  to  northern 
Wisconsin  and  central  Minnesota,  west  to  Nebraska  and  Kansas. 


FEB.,  1912.    MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        267 

Description  —  General  color  above  pale  tawny  brown,  the  hairs  tipped 
with  black;  sides  of  body  paler;  nape  distinctly  tinged  with  rufous 
brown  or  rusty  brown,  quite  different  from  the  color  of  the  back; 
rump  gray  mixed  with  dusky,  caused  by  the  grayish  hairs  being  tip- 
ped with  black;  upper  surface  of  tail  grayish  brown,  under  surface 
white;  belly  white;  under  side  of  neck  brownish  buff;  upper  sur- 
face of  legs  pale  rusty  brown.  Does  not  turn  white  in  winter. 

Remarks  —  Nelson  states  (/.  c.,  p.  174)  that  S.  f.  alacer  occurs  in  "ex- 
treme southern  Illinois,"  but  does  not  include  Illinois  specimens 
in  his  list  of  material  examined.  All  the  specimens  in  the  Field 
Museum  collection  from  the  most  southern  counties  should  un- 
doubtedly be  referred  to  mearnsii. 

Measurements  —  Total  length,  about  17.75  in.  (451  mm.) ;  tail  vertebrae, 
2.30  in.  (60  mm.);  hind  foot,  4  in.  (101  mm.). 
Field  measurements  of  6  specimens  taken  in  southern  Illinois  by 

E.  Heller: 

No.                          Place.  Date.  Total  Length.  Tail  Vertebrae.  Hind  Foot_ 

I54°3>  ?  .  Olive  Branch,  111.  .  .Nov.  26,  1906  465  mm.  65  mm.  105  mm_ 

15282,  d\  Golconda,  111 Apr.  12,1907  445      "  61      "  92      " 

1 5795.  cf,  Ozark,  111 Apr.  21,1907  460     "  71      "  95      " 

15788,  cf,  Golconda,  111 .Apr.  11,1907  450     "  60     "  97      " 

J5793.   9 ,  Reevesville,  111 Apr.  18,1907  460     "  68      "  96      " 

15790.  d",  Reevesville,  111 Apr.  17,1907  475      "  60      "  99      " 

Average  measurements  of  10  specimens  from  different  localities  in 
Wisconsin: 

Total  length,  455  mm.;  tail  vertebrae,  61  mm.;  hind  foot,  103  mm. 

Mearns's  Cotton-tail  Rabbit,  Cotton-tail  or  Gray  Rabbit  as  it  is 
variously  called,  is  our  most  common  species.  In  fact  it  is  the  only 
representative  of  the  family  which  occurs  in  northern  Illinois  and 
southern  Wisconsin.  It  is  found  throughout  Illinois  and  Wisconsin, 
possibly  excepting  the  extreme  northeastern  portion  of  the  latter  state, 
but  it  is  not  unlikely  that  its  range  will  be  found  to  include  all  of  the 
northern  counties.  Specimens  have  been  examined  from  a  large 
number  of  localities  throughout  both  states,  ranging  from  Alexander 
and  Johnson  counties  in  extreme  southern  Illinois  to  Douglas  and 
Oconto  counties  in  northern  Wisconsin.  Although  still  abundant  at 
the  present  time  in  many  localities  in  the  vicinity  of  Chicago,  its 
numbers  were  evidently  much  greater  thirty  years  ago.  Bray  ton 
(1882)  states:  "They  were  worth  in  the  Chicago  market  from  five  to 
fifteen  cents  apiece,  according  to  the  abundance  or  the  state  of  the 
weather.  I  have  seen  them,  when  frozen  in  large  boxes,  sold  by  the 
cubic  foot,  and  shipped  from  Chicago  to  New  York  City."* 

*  Geol.  Surv.  Ohio,  IV,  Pt.  I,  1882,  p.  188. 


268    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 


J 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.         269 

This  Rabbit  is  most  commonly  found  in  woods  where  there  are 
numerous  thickets  and  in  open  country  where  there  is  plenty  of  under- 
brush. It  is  not  a  burrowing  animal  in  the  strict  sense  of  the  word, 
as  it  does  not  dig  burrows,  but  it  often  occupies  holes  in  the  ground 
and  hollow  trees  and  logs,  and  when  pursued  will  almost  invariably 
seek  refuge  in  such  places  when  available.  In  this  connection  Nelson 
says:  "In  some  cases  they  enlarge  burrows  or  dig  the  dirt  from  between 
rocks  or  under  boards  to  make  an  entrance  under  a  house,  but  appear 
never  to  make  entirely  new  burrows"  (/.  c.,  p.  22). 

The  Cotton-tail  is  a  gentle,  timid  animal  and  when  caught  it  never 
attempts  to  bite  but  generally  utters  a  sharp  squeal  of  fear.  When 
suspicious  or  angry  it  has  the  habit  of  stamping  the  ground  with  its 
hind  feet  like  our  domestic  descendants  of  the  European  species.  The 
life  of  the  Rabbits  is  by  no  means  easy;  practically  all  carnivorous 
mammals  prey  upon  them,  as  well  as  the  larger  hawks  and  owls;  Minks 
and  Weasels  hunt  them  persistently  and  destroy  a  great  many.  They 
are  very  prolific,  however,  4  to  6  young  being  born  at  a  birth,  and  there 
are  often  three  litters  during  a  season.  The  nest  is  usually  a  mat  of 
grass  and  leaves  lined  with  soft  fur  from  the  pelage  of  the  mother,  and 
is  placed  on  the  ground  concealed  under  bushes  or  weeds.  According 
to  Nelson  the  young,  when  born,  are  naked  and  their  eyes  are  closed 
(/.  c.,  p.  14).  They  are  suckled  and  cared  for  by  the  mother  for  three 
or  four  weeks,  after  which  they  are  left  to  care  for  themselves.  When 
feeding  and  undisturbed  these  animals  move  about  slowly  with  short 
hops,  advancing  about  a  foot  at  a  time,  but  when  frightened  or  pursued 
by  dogs  they  can  run  fast  for  a  short  distance.  Their  long  muscular 
hihd  legs  enable  them  to  make  leaps  of  from  8  to  10  feet,  as  shown  by 
tracks  in  the  snow. 

The  food  of  the  Cotton-tail  consists  principally  of  grass,  leaves  of 
shrubs  and  tender  buds,  as  well  as  the  bark  of  trees.  In  cultivated  dis- 
tricts they  frequently  do  considerable  damage  to  vegetable  gardens 
and  fruit  trees.  Lantz  says,*  "The  common  cottontail  is  fond  of  fre- 
quenting farms  and  plantations  and  makes  its  'forms'  under  brush 
heaps  or  in  tufts  of  grass,  bunches  of  weeds,  briars,  or  bushes.  .  .  . 
It  occupies  this  form,  or  nest,  by  day  and  at  night  moves  about,  feeding 
upon  the  succulent  vegetables  in  the  farmer's  garden,  or  the  clover, 
turnips,  or  corn  in  his  fields.  In  the  fall  it  feasts  upon  apples,  cabbages, 
turnips  and  the  like  left  exposed  in  garden  and  orchard ;  and  in  winter, 
when  all  else  is  frozen  hard  or  covered  with  snow,  it  turns  its  attention  to 
twigs  and  bark  of  woody  plants,  often  doing  much  damage  to  young  trees." 

For  the  benefit  of  fruit-growers  I  quote  the  formula  of  a  wash  given 
by  Lantz  (/.  c.,  p.  340),  which  has  proved  efficacious  in  protecting  the 
*  Yearbook  Dept.  Agr.,  1907,  p.  331. 


270    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 


Map  showing  supposed  distribution  of  Cotton-tail  Rabbits  belonging  to  the  subgenus  Sylvilagus 
in  eastern  United  States. 


Sylvilagus  floridanus  (ALLEN).  (Bull.  Amer.  Mus.  Nat.  Hist.,  1890,  p.  160.)  Type 
locality  —  Sebastian  River,  Brevard  Co.,  Florida.  Size  small;  total  length, 
about  1 6  or  17  inches;  color  grayish  brown  or  rusty  brown;  legs  and  nape 
rufous  brown. 

Sylvilagus  f.  mallurus  (THOMAS).  (Ann.  &  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  7th  ser.,  II,  1898, 
p.  320.)  Type  locality  —  Raleigh,  North  Carolina.  Larger  than  floridanus 
and  ears  longer;  color  paler. 

Sylvilagus  f.  mearnsii  (ALLEN).  Type  locality — Fort  Snelling,  Minnesota.  De- 
scription as  previously  given.  Total  length,  about  17.50  in.;  tail  vertebrae, 
about  2.75  in.;  hind  foot,  about  4  in. 

Sylvilagus  f.  alacer  (BANGS).  (Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  X,  1896,  p.  136.)  Type 
locality  —  Stilwell,  Oklahoma.  Smaller  than  mearnsii;  size  about  the  same 
as  floridanus;  upper  parts  more  reddish  brown  than  mearnsii;  total  length,  about 
16.75  m-;  tail  vertebrae,  2.25  to  2.50  in.;  hind  foot,  3.75  in. 

Sylvilagus  f.  hitchensi  MEARNS.  (Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  XXXIX,  1911,  p.  227.) 
Type  locality  —  Smiths  Island,  Northampton  Co.,  Virginia.  Size  of  mallurus 
but  paler,  with  upper  parts  sandy  fulvous  and  skull  and  teeth  larger. 


»    FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        271 

trunks  of  fruit  trees  from  the  depredations  of  these  animals  as  well  as 
from  mice: 

Unslacked  l^me 20  pounds, 

Flowers  of  sulphur 15  pounds, 

Water  to  make 45  to  50  gallons. 

This  will  make  a  quantity  about  sufficient  to  fill  an  ordinary  kerosene 
barrel.     Lantz  ^ays,  tc A  little  salt  may  be  added  to  increase  the  ad- 
'    hesive  property  of  the  mixture.     The  lime,  sulphur,  and  about  a  third 
»     of  the  water  .are  boiled  together  for  at  least  one  hour,  and  the  full 
quantity  of  the  water  is  then  added.     For  San  Jose  scale  the  wash  in 
the  form  of  a  spray  is  applied  to  the  entire  surface  of  the  trees.     For 
protection  from  mice  and  rabbits  the  trunks  only  require  treatment, 
and  the  wash  may  be  applied  with  a  brush.     One  application  in  Novem- 
ber should  last  the  entire  winter." 

Specimens  examined  from  Illinois,  Wisconsin  and  adjoining  states: 
Illinois  —  Camp  Logan,  Lake  Co.,  i;  Olive  Branch,  Alexander  Co.,  3; 

Reevesville,  Johnson  Co.,  4;  Ozark,  Johnson  Co.,   2;  Golconda, 

Pope  Co.,  3  =  13- 
Wisconsin  —  Beaver  Dam,  Dodge  Co.,  5;  (M.  P.  M.)  Milwaukee  Co., 

i;  Jefferson  Co.,   i;  Genoa,  Vernon  Co.,    5;    Waukesha    Co.,   i; 

Upper  St.  Croix  Lake,  Douglas  Co.,  i;  Kelly  Brook,  Oconto  Co., 

10;  Grant  Co.,  9;  Racine  Co.,  2;  Prescott,  Pierce  Co.,  5;  Delavan, 

Walworth  Co.,   2;   (O.  .C.)  Turtle  Lake,  Barren  Co.   (skulls),   7; 

Colfax,  Dunn  Co.  (skulls),  9  =  58. 
Indiana  —  La  Porte,  i. 
Iowa  —  Knoxville,  5. 
Minnesota  —  Ft.  Snelling,  i. 

Subgenus  TAPETI  Gray. 

Brain-case  depressed  and  comparatively  narrow;  supraorbital 
flattened;  anterior  process  of  zygomatic  arch  with  sharp  edge;  pelage 
coarse;  feet  more  thinly  haired  than  in  subgenus  Sylvilagus;  tail  short. 

Sylvilagus  aquaticus  (BACH.). 
SWAMP  RABBIT. 

Lepus  aquaticus  BACHMAN,  Jour.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  VII,  1837,  p.  319.  KEN- 
NICOTT,  Agr.  Rept.  for  1857,  U.  S.  Patent  Office  Rept.,  1858,  p.  85.  HAHN, 
Ann.  Rept.  Dept.  Geol.  &  Nat.  Resources  Ind.,  1908  (1909),  p.  538  (Indiana). 
HOWELL,  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XXII,  1909,  p.  63  (Tennessee,  Mississippi, 
etc.). 

Sylvilagus  aquaticus  NELSON,  N.  Amer.  Fauna,  No.  29,  1909,  p.  270  (Illinois,  Mis- 
souri, Tennessee,  etc.).  HOWELL,  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XXIII,  1910,  p.  31 
(Missouri,  Kentucky,  Illinois). 


272     FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        273 

Type  locality  —  Supposed  to  be  western  Alabama. 
Distribution  —  Eastern   Texas   and   Oklahoma,   nearly   the  whole   of 
Alabama,  Mississippi  and  Louisiana  (except  on  the  coast),  extreme 
western  Georgia  and  the  greater  portion  of  Arkansas,  and  north- 
ward in  western  Tennessee  and  Kentucky  to  southern  Illinois. 
Description  —  General   color  of  upper  parts  ochraceous  brown,   the 
hairs  tipped  with  black;  nape,  rump,  upper  sides  of  legs  and  upper 
surface  of  tail  plain  ochraceous  brown  (not  gray  or  grayish  as  in 
mearnsi)  often  tinged  with  rusty;  under  side  of  neck  buffy  brown; 
rest  of  under  parts,  including  under  surface  of  tail,  white. 
Measurements  —  Total  length,  about  20.50  in.  (521  mm.);  tail  vertebrae, 

2.75  in.  (69.8  mm.);  hind  foot,  4.12  in.  (104.8  mm.). 
Habitat  —  Low  swampy  woods  and  bottom  lands  about  rivers  and 
lakes. 

The  Swamp  Rabbit  is  a  southern  species  found  within  our  limits 
only  in  the  extreme  southern  part  of  Illinois.  According  to  Howell 
the  northern  limit  of  its  range  in  the  state  is  within  a  few  miles  of 
Grand  Tower,  Jackson  County,  and  a  point  about  five  miles  below 
Golconda  in  Pope  County. 

This  species  prefers  low  swampy  woodlands  and  bottom  lands  in 
the  vicinity  of  water,  but  I  have  taken  it  in  the  South  in  comparatively 
high  dry  woods  along  river  banks  but  never  far  from  water. 

Audubon  and  Bachman  say,  "When  chased  by  dogs,  the  Swamp- 
Hare  runs  with  great  swiftness  and  is  able  to  escape  from  them  without 
difficulty;  but  it  almost  invariably  directs  its  flight  towards  the  nearest 
pond,  as  if  led  by  instinct  to  seek  an  element  in  which  all  traces  of  its 
scent  are  soon  lost  to  its  eager  pursuers.  .  .  .  We  have  been  in- 
formed that  it  is  a  very  common  habit  of  this  species  when  pursued,  to 
swim  to  the  edge  of  some  stream  or  pond,  retreat  beneath  the  overhang- 
ing roots  of  the  trees  that  may  be  growing  on  its  border,  or  seek  for  a 
secure  shelter  under  the  hollows  made  by  the  washing  of  the  banks. 
The  swiftness  of  foot  possessed  by  this  Hare,  and  the  stratagems  to 
which  it  is  capable  of  resorting,  might  easily  enable  it  to  elude  pursuit 
but  for  this  habit  of  seeking  for  shelter  as  soon  as  it  is  chased,  which 
is  the  cause  of  its  being  frequently  captured."* 

I  have  never  found  a  nest  of  this  Rabbit,  but  according  to  Nelson 
it  differs  but  little  from  that  of  the  Cotton-tail.  He  says,  "J.  D. 
Mitchell  of  Victoria,  Texas,  informs  me  that  the  nesting  habits  of  the 
swamp  rabbit  are  identical  with  those  of  the  Cotton-tail  (S.  f.  chapmani) 
except  that  the  nest  is  considerably  larger  and  is  placed  in  dry  places 
in  river  bottoms  near  a  fallen  log,  dead  stump,  or  pile  of  trash.  He 

*  Quadrupeds  N.  Amer.,  I,  1846,  p.  289. 


274    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 

states  further  that  the  young,  as  in  the  case  of  the  Cotton-tail,  are 
born  naked,  blind  and  helpless"  (/.  c..  p.  273). 

Specimens  examined  from  Illinois : 
Reevesville,  Johnson  Co.,  2;  Olive  Branch,  Alexander  Co.,  3  =  5. 


Map  illustrating  the  approximate  distribdtion  of  the  Swamp  and  Marsh  Rabbits  belonging 
to  the  subgenus  Tapeti. 

Sylvilagus  aquaticus  (BACHMAN).  Type  locality  —  Supposed  to  be  western  Ala- 
bama. Description  as  previously  given. 

Sylvilagus  a.  littoralis  NELSON.  (N.  Amer.  Fauna,  No.  29,  1909,  p.  273.)  Type 
locality  —  Houma,  Louisiana.  Size  of  aquaticus,  but  color  more  reddish  and 
decidedly  darker. 

Sylvilagus  palustris  (BACHMAN).  (Jour.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  VII,  1837,  p.  194.) 
Type  locality  —  Coast  of  South  Carolina.  Smaller  than  aquaticus  and  under 
side  of  tail  grayish. 

Sylvilagus  p.  paludicola  (MILLER  &  BANGS).  (Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  IX,  1894, 
p.  105.)  Type  locality  —  Fort  Island,  near  Crystal  River,  Citrus  Co.,  Florida. 
A  dark  reddish  brown  form  with  short,  broad  ears. 


ORDER  FER>E. 

THE  FLESH   EATERS, 
r      Suborder  FISSIPEDIA. 

The  order  Ferae,  formerly  known  as  Carnivora,  contains  the  Flesh 
Eaters  or  Beasts  of  Prey,  which  are  widely  distributed  nearly  throughout 
the  world.*  The  order  is  divided  into  two  suborders:  the  Pinnipedia, 
containing  the  marine  Seals  and  Walruses;  and  the  Fissipedia,  which 
is  the  one  that  comes  within  the  scope  of  the  present  work  and  which 
includes  all  the  other  known  living  forms  belonging  to  the  order,  such 
as  Lions,  Tigers,  Cats,  Bears,  Wolves,  Foxes,  Skunks,  Weasels,  etc. 

While  all  the  members  of  the  order  are  flesh  eaters,  some  of  them, 
like  the  Bears,  are  practically  omnivorous  and  others  vary  their  diet 
with  roots,  fruits  and  berries.  The  dentition  is  especially  adapted  to 
their  mode  of  life;  the  canines  are  prominent,  being  large,  sharp,  and, 
as  a  rule,  somewhat  recurved. f  The  incisors  are  pointed  and  are  six 
in  number  in  each  jaw  (with  rare  exceptions) ;  the  cheek  teeth  (molars 
and  premolars)  are  unusually  modified.  The  last  premolar  in  the  upper 
jaw  and  the  first  true  molar  in  the  lower  jaw  are  generally  (but  not 
always)  decidedly  larger  and  longer  than  the  rest  of  the  cheek  teeth 
and  are  known  as  carnassial  or  sectorial  teeth.  All  the  teeth  in  front 
of  the  carnassial  teeth  have  cutting  edges;  the  only  teeth  having  broad 
crowns  are  those  situated  behind  the  carnassials.  The  skull  is  furnished 
with  ridges  to  which  are  attached  the  powerful  jaw  muscles.  The 

radius  and  ulna  are  separate  and 
the  clavicles  are  more  or  less 
rudimentary  or  absent.  The 
toes  are  armed  with  strong  claws, 
which  vary  in  shape  in  different 
animals.  Some  are  curved  and 
some  nearly  straight.  In  the 
Cats,  for  example,  they  are 
strongly  curved,  sharp  and 
retractile,  being  drawn  back  and 
sheathed  when  not  in  use.  There 
is  a  wide  diversity  in  size,  shape 
and  habits  among  members  of 

*  The  Australian  region  would  be  excepted,  if  the  Dingo  of  that  country  be 
considered  an  introduced  species. 

t  The  Sabre-toothed  Tiger,  a  fossil  species  belonging  to  this  order,  the  remains  of 
which  have  been  found  in  Pleistocene  deposits  in  some  parts  of  the  United  States 
and  elsewhere,  had  the  canine  teeth  enormously  developed,  reaching  a  length  of 
7  or  more  inches. 

275 


Skull  of  a  Fox. 

n.  Incisors;  o,  canines;  p,  premolars;  r,  molars; 
s,  upper  carnassial;  t,  lower  carnassial. 


276    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        277 

this  order;  some,  like  the  Bears,  are  plantigrade,  walking  on  practically 
the  entire  sole  of  the  foot;  others,  like  the  Wolves  and  Cats,  are  dig- 
itigrade  and  walk  on  the  toes;  while  still  others  are  strictly  neither  one 
nor  the  other  and  are  often  considered  as  semi-digitigrade.  The  various 
differences,  however,  will  be  treated  under  the  different  families  and 
genera  and  need  not  be  further  discussed  here. 

The  stomach  is  simple  and  a  caecum  is  present  in  all  of  our  species 
except  those  belonging  to  the  Ursida,  Procyonida  and  apparently  the 
Mustelida.  The  uterus  is  bicornate;  placenta  deciduate  and  usually 
zonary;  the  mammas  vary  in  number  but  are  always  abdominal. 

KEY  TO   OUR   FAMILIES. 

GROUP  1.  Digitigrade  mammals. 

A.  Form  cat-like;  claws  sharp,  strongly  curved  and  retractile 

Family  FELID^.     Cats,  p.  277. 

B.  Form  dog-like;  claws  non-retractile  and  not  strongly  curved. 

Family  CANID^).     Wolves,  Foxes,  etc.,  p.  296. 

GROUP  2.  Plantigrade  or  semi-plantigrade  mammals. 

PART  i.  Tail  annulate  (marked  with  alternate  transverse  light  and  dark  rings). 
A.  Tail  bushy;  molars  ^3  Family  PROCYONID^. 

Raccoons,  p.  391. 
PART  2.  Tail  never  annulate. 

2-2 

A.  Size  very  large;  molars  ^^  Family  URSID./E.     Bears,  p.  396. 

o     o 

B.  Size  variable;  molars  ^-  Family  MUSTELID^. 

2-2 

Otters,  Minks,  Weasels,  Skunks,  Badgers,  and  Wolverine,  p.  327. 


Family  FELID^.      The  Cats. 

This  family,  which  is  probably  the  most  highly  specialized  of  the 
order,  contains  the  Cats,  both  great  and  small,  such  as  Lions,  Tigers, 
Panthers,  Wild  Cats  or  Lynxes,  etc. 

In  all  the  species  the  canine  teeth  are  highly  developed  and  most  of 
the  cheek  teeth  are  sharp  edged,  being  especially  adapted  for  cutting. 
The  claws  are  curved,  sharp  and  retractile,  and  capable  of  being  drawn 
back  or  extended  at  the  will  of  the  animal.  Ordinarily  the  claws  are 
tipped  backward  and  are  protected  by  a  sheath,  being  nearly  or  quite 
concealed,  so  that  no  claw  marks  are  shown  in  the  tracks  made  by  the 
animal  when  walking.  When  needed  for  use,  they  are  tipped  forward 
and  downward  by  contraction  of  the  powerful  flexor  muscles. 


278     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 

The  clavicles  are  more  nearly  developed  than  in  others  belonging  to 
the  order,  but  do  not  articulate  with  the  sternum  or  scapula.  The 
skull  is  short  and  rounded;  the  bullae  much  inflated.  The  tongue  is 
rough,  being  covered  with  sharp,  hard  papillae  which  point  backwards.* 
The  heel  does  not  touch  the  ground  in  walking  (digitigrade) .  The  front 
feet  have  five  and  the  hind  feet  four  toes;  a  caecum  is  present  but  small; 
other  characters  as  given  for  the  order. 

Their  food  consists  principally  of  animals  which  they  have  killed. 
They  are  largely  nocturnal  in  habits  and,  with  few  exceptions,  are  more 
or  less  arboreal. 

Representatives  of  this  family  are  found  in  a  wild  state  throughout 
the  greater  portion  of  the  world,  except  in  Australia  and  Madagascar. 
Two  genera  and  some  20  or  more  species  and  subspecies  occur  in  North 
America,  and  three  species  have  been  recorded  within  our  limits. 

The  origin  of  the  Domestic  Cat  is  uncertain,  but  it  is  generally 
supposed  to  'have  decended  from  an  African  species  (probably  F. 
cajf  r a  or  a  closely  allied  form) ,  which  had  become  domesticated  in  Egypt 
at  a  very  early  periodf  and  was  undoubtedly  introduced  in  Europe, 
where  it  may,  or  may  not,  have  interbred  with  the  Wild  Cat  (F.  cattus) 
of  that  country.  That  Domestic  Cats  were  held  in  high  esteem  in 
Britain  in  ancient  times  is  shown  by  an  old  Welch  lawt  in  force  during 
the  reign  of  Hoel  dda,  or  Howel  the  Good,  who  died  A.  D.  948,  enacting 
that,  if  any  one  stole  or  killed  the  animal  guarding  the  prince's  granary, 
he  was  to  forfeit  a  milk  ewe,  its  fleece  and  lamb,  or  as  much  wheat  as 
when  poured  on  the  Cat  suspended  by  its  tail,  the  head  touching  the 
floor,  would  form  a  heap  high  enough  to  cover  the  tip  of  the  tail. 

During  the  following  600  years,  however,  their  pecuniary  value 
decidedly  decreased  and  in  Topsell's  time  (1607)  they  had  acquired  a 
somewhat  unsavory  reputation  in  many  countries.!  That  ancient 
writer  devotes  a  number  of  pages  to  describing  their  habits,  and  judging 
from  his  account  of  them,  they  differed  but  little  from  those  of  their 
descendents  at  the  present  day.  For  example,  he  states  that  they  are 

*  Noticeable  when  the  hand  is  licked  by  a  Domestic  Cat  and,  of  course,  much 
more  pronounced  in  larger  animals  belonging  to  the  family;  the  tongue  of  a  Lion 
would  tear  the  skin. 

t  Cats  were  held  sacred  by  the  ancient  Egyptians  and  many  of  their  mummies 
have  been  found.  ^Elianus  tells  us  that  at  Bubastis  (later  known  as  Tel  Basta) 
consecrated  Cats  were  fed  upon  fish  kept  in  reservoirs  for  the  purpose  (De  Animalium 
Natura,  1616). 

t  Quoted  by  Thomas  Pennant,  British  Zoology,  I,  1776,  pp.  69,  70. 

§  Cats  were  objects  of  superstition,  being  regarded  as  the  familiars  of  witches 
and  Satan  was  supposed  to. assume  the  shape  of  a  black  Cat.  Among  the  many 
popular  superstitions  which  obtain  even  at  the  present  day  may  be  cited:  That  a 
Cat  "sucks"  a  baby's  breath;  that  it  has  nine  lives;  that,  if  when  washing  its  face  its 
paws  are  extended  above  its  head,  rainy  weather  may  be  expected;  that  a  black  Cat 
crying  on  the  roof  of  a  house  is  a  sinister  omen,  and  many  others  equally  absurd. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.         279 

extremely  fond  of  the  Valerian  plant;  that  they  lie  on  their  backs  and 
play  with  a  string;  that  they  torment  a  wounded  mouse  and  do  not  kill 
it  for  a  time,  knowing  it  cannot  escape,  but  that  they  kill  a  captured 
bird  at  once;  he  also  informs  us  that  the  males  wander  forth  at  night 
and  at  certain  times,  "commonly  called  cat-wralling,"  they  have  a 
"peculiar  direfull  voyce." 

KEY  TO   THE   GENERA. 

Size  large;  tail  more  than  15  inches  long;  three  premolars  and  one  molar  on  each 
side  of  upper  jaw.  Genus  FELIS,  p.  279. 

Size  medium;  tail  less  than  15  inches  long;  only  two  premolars  and  one  molar  on 
each  side  of  upper  jaw.  Genus  LYNX,  p.  286. 

KEY  TO  SPECIES. 

GROUP  1.  Tail  more  than  15  inches  long;  total  length  more  than  60  inches;  pre- 
molars ^-j-;  total  teeth  30. 

Size  large;  tail  long;  general  color  tawny  or  grayish  brown. 

PANTHER  or  COUGAR. 
Felis  couguar,  p.  280. 

GROUP  2.  Tail  less  than  15  inches  long;  total  length  less  than  50  inches;  premolars 

^— ^;  total  teeth  28. 
2-2' 

Color  grayish;  feet  very  large;  tail  less  than  5  inches  long  (to  end  of  tail  bone); 
no  brown  band  or  collar  on  throat;  ear  tufts  usually  1.50  to  2  inches  long; 
end  of  tail  wholly  black.  CANADA  LYNX.  Lynx  canadensis,  p.  287. 

Color  pale  rufous  brown  mixed  with  grayish,  more  or  less  dark  spots  or  streaks  on 
head  and  legs;  throat  with  distinct  pale  brown  collar;  belly  white,  usually 
with  more  or  less  dusky  spots;  end  of  tail  not  entirely  black,  the  under  side 
being  white.  WILD  CAT,  BAY  LYNX.  Lynx  ruff  us,  p.  291. 


Subfamily  FELINE. 
Genus  FELIS  Linnaeus. 

Felis  Linnaeus,  Syst.  Nat.,  X  ed.,  I,  1758,  p.  41.  Type  Felis  catus  Linn. 
Body  comparatively  slender  and  long;  tail  long,  more  than  y$  total 
length;  face  short  and  rounded;  ears  not  tufted;  claws  completely 
retractile;  zygomata  wide;  bullae  large;  three  premolars  on  each  side 
of  upper  jaw;  upper  carnassial  with  distinctly  cusped  inner  tubercle; 
other  characters  as  given  for  the  family. 

Dental  formula:  I.  ^i  C.  L— ,  Pm.  3-^»  M.  —=30. 

3-3  I-I  2-2  I-I 


280    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

Felis  couguar  KERR. 
EASTERN  COUGAR.     PANTHER. 

Local  names  —  Panther,  Cougar,  Mountain  Lion,  Painter. 

Felis  couguar  KERR,  Anim.  Kingd.,  1792,  p.  151.  MERRIAM,  Proc.  Wash.  Acad. 
Sci.,  1901,  p.  582.  HAHN,  Ann.  Kept.  Dept.  Geol.  &  Nat.  Resources  Ind.,  1908 
(1909),  p.  540  (Indiana). 

Felis  concolor  LAPHAM,  Trans.  Wis.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  II,  1852  (1853),  p.  339  (Wis- 
consin). KENNICOTT,  Trans.  111.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  I,  1853-54  (1855),  p.  578 
(Cook  Co.,  Illinois).  THOMAS,  Trans.  111.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  IV,  1859-60  (1861), 
p.  653  (Illinois).  ALLEN,  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  XIII,  1869  (1871),  p.  181 
(Iowa).  HOY,  Trans.  Wis.  Acad.  Sci.,  Arts  &  Letters,  V,  1882,  p.  256  (Wiscon- 
sin). STRONG,  Geol.  Wis.,  Surv.  1873-79,  I>  J883,  p.  436  (Wisconsin).  OSBORN, 
Proc.  Iowa  Acad.  Sci.,  I,  1887-89  (1890),  p.  41  (Iowa).  Ib.,  Annals  of  Iowa,  3rd 
ser.,  VI,  No.  8,  1905,  p.  562  (Iowa).  HERRICK,  Geol.  &  Nat.  Hist.  Surv.  Minn., 
Bull.  No.  7,  1892,  p.  66  (Minnesota).  EVERMANN  &  BUTLER,  Proc.  Ind.  Acad. 
Sci.,  1893  (1894),  p.  138  (Indiana).  BUTLER,  Proc.  Ind.  Acad.  Sci.,  1894  (l895)i 
p.  85  (Indiana).  GARMAN,  Bull.  Essex  Inst.,  XXVI,  1894,  p.  2  (Kentucky). 
RHOADS,  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  1896  (1897),  p.  201  (Tennessee). 

Type  locality  —  Pennsylvania. 

Distribution  —  Formerly    throughout    eastern    North    America,    from 

about  the  Canada  line  south  to  the  Gulf  states;  replaced  in  the 

West  and  in  Florida  by  slightly  different  geographical  races. 
Description  —  Size  large ;  tail  long ;  general  color  pale  tawny  brown  or 

grayish  brown,  middle  of  back  darker  than  the  rest;  under  parts 

pale;  tail  tipped  with  black;  ears  without  tufts  of  long  hair.     The 

young  are  spotted. 
Measurements  —  Total  length  (ordinary  size),  6.50  to  7.50  feet;  tail 

vertebrae,  28  to  34  inches;  hind  foot,  about  10  inches. 

The  Panther,  or  Cougar,  was  formerly  not  uncommon  throughout 
the  wooded  portions  of  Illinois  and  Wisconsin.  The  fact  that  it  was 
considered  rare  by  some  of  the  early  writers  has  little  weight,  inasmuch 
as  its  habits  were  such  that,  in  a  country  where  the  character  of  the  soil 
and  vegetation  were  such  that  its  tracks  could  not  be  seen,  its  presence 
would  be  very  likely  overlooked;*  but  as  the  country  became  settled, 
they  were  driven  out  or  killed  and  it  is  extremely  doubtful  if  any  exist 
within  our  limits  at  the  present  time. 

Referring  to  early  writers,  Woods  (1822)  says,f  "Of  panthers  I 

*  As  illustrating  this,  I  may  say  that  I  hunted  for  many  years  in  southern  Florida 
where  Panthers  were  common,  so  much  so  that  rarely  a  day  passed  without  rinding 
the  tracks  of  one  or  more  of  these  animals  either  on  the  sandy  ridges  or  in  the  soft 
ground  bordering  the  cypress  swamps,  and  yet  for  two  seasons  not  a  single  one  of 
these  big  Cats  was  seen.  It  was  only  after  a  pack  of  trained  hounds  had  been  pressed 
into  service  that  three  were  killed  in  one  week  in  the  same  locality. 

t  Woods,  J.  Two  Years'  Residence  in  the  Settlement  on  English  Prairie  in  the 
Illinois  Country,  1820-21  (1822),  p.  190. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        281 


I 


282     FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY — -ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 

have  seen  nothing  and  heard  but  little;  a  noted  hunter  told  me  he  had 
followed  hunting  steadily  (an  American  phrase)  for  twenty  years,  and 
had  never  seen  one;  but  that  others  who  had  hunted  but  little,  had 
sometimes  killed  one."  Kennicott  (1854)  says,  "A  single  individual 
has  been  known  in  the  county"  [Cook  Co.].  (1.  c.,  p.  578.)  Thomas 
(1860)  says,  "Very  few  if  any  found  in  the  state  (Illinois),  though  it 
has  occasionally  been  seen  within  the  last  few  years  (1.  c.,  p.  653). 

Mr.  J.  E.  Andrews  writes  me  that  the  last  Panther  was  killed  in 
Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  about  1840;  and  Mr.  C.  J.  Boyd  of  Anna, 
Illinois,  informs  me  that  one  was  killed  east  of  Thebes  in  Alexander 
Co.,  about  1862.  Judge  R.  M.  Barnes  of  Lacon,  Illinois,  writes  me  that 
his  grandfather  killed  one  northeast  of  Galena,  Jo  Daviess  Co.,  about 
1840,  but  he  is  in  doubt  as  to  the  exact  year.  There  have  been  rumors 
of  these  animals  having  been  observed  in  southern  Illinois  at  a  much 
later  date ;  but  all  rest  upon  hearsay  evidence  and  are  of  comparatively 
little  value.  Nevertheless,  from  among  a  number  of  letters  I  have 
received  from  residents  in  that  locality,  two  at  least  are  worthy  of 
mention:  Mr.  J.  C.  Baker  of  Golconda,  Illinois,  writes  that  he  is 
informed  upon  good  authority  (and  has  faith  in  the  statement)  that  a 
Panther  was  seen  in  Pope  County  in  the  fall  of  1905;  and  Mr.  A.  W. 
Williams  of  Ava,  Jackson  Co.,  writes,  "We  still  hear  of  people  seeing 
Panthers  occasionally  among  the  hills  and  bluffs  of  the  Mississippi  River. ' ' 

Hahn  is  of  the  opinion  that  these  animals  became  extinct  in  Indiana 
about  the  year  1850  (/.  c.,  p.  540).  Mr.  E.  J.  Chansler,  an  old  resident 
of  Bicknell,  Indiana,  writes  me  that  he  has  records  of  at  least  three 
Panthers  having  been  seen  or  killed  in  Knox  and  Daviess  counties  in 
that  State,  the  latest  being  one  near  Vincennes,  in  1837,  by  Felix  Bouchie. 

In  Wisconsin  we  have  reason  to  believe  that  a  few  individuals  existed 
until  a  comparatively  recent  date.  Dr.  Hoy  (1882)  says,  "A  few  pan- 
thers, Felis  Concolor,  are  yet  with  us;  a  straggler  is  occasionally  seen. 
Benjamin  Bones  of  Racine  shot  one  on  the  head  waters  of  Black  River, 
December,  1863."  (/.  c.,  p.  256.)  Strong  (1883)  says,  "Found  rarely 
in  the  northern  part  of  the  state."  (/.  c.,  p.  436.)  Mr.  E.  C.  Bratlie  of 
Westly  informs  me  that  a  Panther  was  killed  in  Vernon  County  a  few 
miles  from  his  town  about  forty  years  ago(i87o?).  Mr.  George  A. 
Williams  of  Kremlin,  Marinette  Co.,  writes,  "Two  Panthers  were 
seen  by  Nelson  and  Albert  Chapman  and  Ray  Williams  in  this  county 
on  January  2,  1909.  This  information  is  reliable."  Mr.  Daniel  Farn- 
ham  of  Manly,  Douglas  Co.,  writes,  "There  was  a  Panther  killed  in 
Douglas  County  about  three  or  four  years  ago  and  one  shot  at  last 
winter  but  not  killed."  While  records  of  animals  seen  and  not  killed 
are  unsatisfactory  from  a  scientific  standpoint,  owing  to  possible  error 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        283 

in  identification,*  they  are  of  interest,  coming,  as  they  do,  from  trust- 
worthy men  who  are  honest  in  their  convictions. 

Herrick  states  that  an  animal  of  this  species  was  killed  in  Sunrise, 
Chisago  Co.,  Minnesota,  in  1875.  ('•  c->  P-  68.) 

Panthers  are  shy  animals  and  on  account  of  their  nocturnal  habits 
are  rarely  seen  even  where  they  are  not  uncommon.  As  a  rule  they 
do  their  hunting  at  night  or  after  sunset  and  very  early  in  the  morning, 
but  on  cloudy  days  or  after  a  rain  they  often  move  about  in  the  daytime. 
They  are  great  wanderers,  rarely  staying  long  in  one  place  unless 
attracted  by  an  unusual  abundance  of  game  or  during  the  breeding  sea- 
son. They  prey  alike  upon  large  and  small  animals.  Rabbits  and 
Gophers  are  often  killed  by  them  and  occasionally  a  Porcupine  is  added 
to  the  list,  in  spite  of  the  fact  that  the  destruction  of  the  latter  is  often 
attended  with  unpleasant  results,  as  Dr.  C.  Hart  Merriam  tells  us:f 
"It  often  happens  that  a  Panther  is  killed  whose  mouth  and  lips  and 
sometimes  other  parts  also,  fairly  bristle  with  the  quills  of  this  for- 
midable rodent.  Porcupines  are  such  logy,  sluggish  creatures,  that  in 
their  noctivagations  they  fall  an  easy  prey  to  any  animal  that  cares 
to  meddle  with  them." 

While  there  is  no  doubt  that  Panthers  kill  a  great  many  small 
mammals,  they  are  fond  of  larger  game  such  as  Deer,  Sheep  and  Hogs, 
when  they  can  get  them.  In  the  vicinity  of  ranches  they  are  undesirable 
neighbors,  as  they  will  kill  dogs  and  colts,  and  it  is  claimed  when 
pressed  by  hunger  they  will  attack  full  grown  cattle  and  Elk.  While 
hunting  in  the  vicinity  of  the  McCloud  River,  California,  in  the 
"eighties,"  the  ranchmen  complained  to  me  of  the  number  of  colts  that 
had  been  killed  by  Panthers.  One  man  informed  me  he  had  lost  five  colts 
and  several  calves  that  season.  If  a  Panther  kills  an  animal  sufficiently 
.large  to  furnish  more  than  one  meal,  such  as  a  Deer  or  a  Sheep,  he 
returns  to  it  the  second  night  but  rarely  the  third  night  in  localities 
where  game  is  plenty,  and  much  of  it  is  often  left  uneaten.  In  Florida, 
where  a  slightly  different  race  occurs  but  whose  habits  probably  differ 
but  little  from  the  northern  form,  I  have  on  two  occasions  found  a  partly 
eaten  Deer  in  a  state  of  decomposition,  which  had  evidently  been  left 
by  a  Panther.  Another  time  I  found  a  half -eaten  fawn  which  had  appar- 
ently been  killed  the  previous  night.  The  Panther  came  back  sometime 
during  the  night,  but  did  not  attempt  to  touch  the  fawn,  being  ev- 

*  On  one  occasion  in  Florida,  while  accompanied  by  an  Indian,  I  had  a  momen- 
tary glimpse  of  a  brown  animal  as  it  sank  down  behind  a  clump  of  palmettos,  and 
we  both  believed  it  to  be  a  Panther.  Upon  stalking  it,  however,  we  were  astonished 
to  discover  it  to  be  a  half-grown  Deer.  The  fact  that  it  attempted  to  hide  instead 
of  running  away  aided  in  the  deception. 

t  Mamm.  Adirondack  Reg.,  1886,  p.  30. 


284    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 

idently  aware  of  our  visit  and  suspicious  of  danger.  The  next  morning, 
the  tracks  being  quite  fresh,  he  was  run  down  and  treed  by  the  dogs  in 
less  than  half  an  hour.  This  animal  was  a  good-sized  male  and  measured 
seven  feet  six  inches  from  nose  to  tip  of  tail,  and  is  the  largest  Panther 
I  have  killed  in  Florida,  although  the  Indians  claim  they  occa- 
sionally grow  somewhat  larger.  I  am  inclined  to  believe,  however, 
that  Panthers  rarely  exceed  eight  feet  in  length  in  Florida,  or  anywhere 
else  in  the  United  States.  A  full  grown  male  Florida  Panther  will 


Young  Florida  Panther. 

weigh  from  125  to  150  pounds,  but  I  have  seen  adult  females  of  that 
form  which  were  slightly  less  than  six  feet  in  length  and  weighed  about 
80  pounds.  The  western  form  averages  larger,  males  160  to  170  pounds 
in  weight  being  not  uncommon.  In  a  series  of  specimens  from  Colorado 
recorded  by  Colonel  Theodore  Roosevelt*  the  lengths  of  three  males 
are  given  as  7  feet  6  inches,  7  feet  8  inches  and  8  feet,  the  latter  being 
an  unusually  large  animal  which  weighed  227  pounds. 

The  question  as  to  how  far  a  Panther  can  spring  at  a  single  leap  has 
often  been  discussed.  On  one  occasion  a  female  chased  by  hounds  was 
seen  by  one  of  my  men  to  leap  across  a  creek  which  was  afterward 
measured  and  the  width  from  bank  to  bank  was  found  to  be  25  feet. 
This  seemed  to  me  to  be  a  very  good  leap  at  the  time,  but  it  is  insignif- 
icant when  compared  with  those  described  by  Dr.  Merriam,  who  says, 
"On  one  occasion  Mr.  Sheppard  measured  a  leap,  over  snow,  of  nearly 

*  Outdoor  Pastimes  of  an  American  Hunter,  1908,  p.  31. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAUMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        285 


Map  illustrating  the  probable  former  distribution  of  Cougars  or  Panthers  in  eastern  United  States. 
At  the  present  time  F.  couguar  is  rare,  having  been  exterminated  nearly  throughout  its  former  range. 
F.  c.  coryi  is  still  not  uncommon  in  the  wilder  portions  of  Florida. 

Felis  couguar  KERR.  Type  locality  —  Pennsylvania.  Description  as  previously 
given. 

Felis  c.  coryi  (BANGS).  (Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XIII,  1899,  p.  15.)  New  name  for 
Felis  concolor  floridana  CORY  (preoccupied)  described  in  "Hunting  and  Fishing 
in  Florida,"  1896,  p.  109.  Type  locality  —  Southeast  of  Lake  Okeechobee,  west 
of  Hillsboro  River,  Bade  Co.,  Florida.  (Type  No.  1155,  Field  Mus.  Nat.  Hist.) 
Color  ferrugineous  brown;  legs  long;  feet  small;  nasals  large. 

Felis  c.  arundivaga  (HOLLISTER).*  (Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XXIV.,  1911,  p.  176.) 
Type  locality  —  Twelve  miles  southwest  of  Vidalia,  Concordia  Parish,  Louisiana. 
General  color  of  upper  parts  grayish  fawn-color,  not  rusty  or  red  brown  as  in 
coryi,  or  paler  and  uniformly  colored  as  in  azteca;  cranial  characters  approaching 
coryi. 
*  Described  after  cut  of  map  was  made. 


286    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

forty  feet.  In  this  instance  there  were  three  preliminary  springs,  and 
the  Panther  struck  his  deer  on  the  fourth.  The  longest  leap  measured 
by  Mr.  Sheppard  was  one  of  sixty  feet,  but  here  the  Panther  jumped 
from  a  ledge  of  rock  about  twenty  feet  above  the  level  upon  which  the 
deer  was  standing.  He  struck  it  with  such  force  as  to  knock  it  nearly 
a  rod  further  off."  (/.  c.,  pp.  31-32.) 

In  spite  of  the  hair-raising  stories  of  the  ferocity  of  these  animals, 
I  am  satisfied  that  Panthers  are  very  much  afraid  of  man  and,  judging 
from  my  experience,  unless  badly  wounded,  will  rarely  or  never  attempt 
to  attack  him.  Colonel  Theodore  Roosevelt  says,*  "There  are  many 
contradictions  in  its  character.  Like  the  American  Wolf  it  is  certainly 
very  much  afraid  of  man ;  yet  it  habitually  follows  the  trail  of  the  hunter 
or  solitary  traveller,  dogging  his  footsteps,  itself  always  unseen.  I 
have  had  this  happen  to  me  personally.  When  hungry  it  will  seize 
and  carry  off  any  dog;  yet  it  will  sometimes  go  up  a  tree  when  pursued 
even  by  a  single  small  dog  wholly  unable  to  do  it  the  least  harm.  It  is 
small  wonder  that  the  average  frontier  settler  should  grow  to  regard, 
almost  with  superstition,  the  great  furtive  cat  which  he  never  sees  but 
of  whose  presence  he  is  ever  aware." 

The  time  of  breeding  seems  to  be  somewhat  irregular;  the  period 
of  gestation  is  about  90  days,  but  in  Florida  I  have  seen  young  less  than 
three  months  old  in  December,  and  they  are  often  found  mating  in 
February  and  early  in  March.  The  young  are  usually  two  in  number, 
sometimes  one  and  rarely  three  or  four.  The  young  Florida  Panther  is 
tawny  brown  in  color,  marked  with  numerous,  large,  irregular,  brownish 
black  spots ;  those  of  the  northern  form  are  lighter  in  color  but  the  spot- 
ting is  about  the  same.  The  cry  of  the  cub  resembles  the  screech  of  a 
parrot,  but  it  often  utters  a  soft  whistle. 

We  often  read  of  the  ''scream  of  a  panther, "  but  I  have  never  heard 
what  I  could  be  certain  was  the  cry  of  an  adult  animal  of  this  species. 
Several  of  my  Indian  friends  inform  me,  however,  that  they  do  "scream  " 
and  also  occasionally  yowl  like  a  House  Cat,  but  much  louder.  Hollister 
describes  the  cry  of  the  Louisiana  Panther  as  "a  long  drawn  out, 
shrill  trill,  weird  and  startling.  It  commences  low  on  the  scale,  grad- 
ually ascends,  increasing  in  volume,  and  then  lowers  at  the  end."f 

Genus  LYNX  Kerr. 

Lynx  Kerr,  Anim.  Kingd.,  I,  1792,  p.  155.     Type  Lynx  vulgaris  Kerr. 

Cranial  characters  as  in  Felis;  tail  short;  ears  tufted;  body  more 

or  less  spotted;  only  two  premolars  in  each  side  of  upper  jaw,  instead 

*  Outdoor  Pastimes  of  an  American  Hunter,  1908,  p.  22. 
t  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XXIV,  1911,  p.  177. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  or  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        287 

of  three  as  in  Felis;  claws  completely  retractile;  other  characters  as 
given  for  the  family. 

Dental  formula:  I.  ^^,  C.^—  ^>  Pm.  ^—?-,  M. 
-  -  - 


3-3         i-i  2-2          i-i 

Subgenus  LYNX  Kerr. 

Lynx  canadensis  KERR. 

CANADA  LYNX.     LUCIVEE. 

Lynx  canadensis  KERR,  Anim.  Kingd.,  I,  1792,  p.  157.  MILES,  Rept.  Geol.  Surv. 
Mich.,  I,  1860  (1861),  p.  219  (Michigan).  STRONG,  Geol.  Wis.,  Surv.  1873-79, 
I,  1883,  p.  436  (Wisconsin).  EVERMANN  &  BUTLER,  Proc.  Ind.  Acad.  Sci.,. 
1893  (1894),  p.  38  (Indiana).  RHOADS,  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  1896  (1897), 
p.  201  (Tennessee).  JACKSON,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  VI,  1908,  p.  25  (Wiscon- 
sin). HAHN,  Ann.  Rept.  Dept.  Geol.  &  Nat.  Resources  Ind.,  1908  (1909),  p. 
543  (Indiana). 

Lyncus  borealis  LAPHAM,  Trans.  Wis.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  II,  1852  (1853),  p.  339  (Wis- 
consin). 

Lynx  borealis  KENNICOTT,  Trans.  111.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  I,  1853-54  (1855),  p.  579 
(Cook  Co.,  Illinois). 

Type  locality  —  Eastern  Canada. 

Distribution  —  Practically  the  whole  of  northern  North  America,  from 
the  northern  border  of  United  States  northward,  farther  south 
in  the  Rocky  Mountains,  in  New  York  and  in  the  mountains  in 
Pennsylvania;  formerly  its  range  extended  as  far  south  as  Illinois 
and  Indiana.  Replaced  in  Alaska  and  New  Foundland  by  allied 
forms. 

Description  —  General  color  light  gray,  more  or  less  grizzled  with 
brown;  belly  grayish  white;  throat  grayish  white;  ear  tufts  brownish 
black,  usually  more  than  1.50  inches  long;  a  ruff  of  long  hairs  on 
sides  of  head,  grayish  white,  the  middle  hairs  with  ends  brownish 
black  and  forming  a  black  patch  in  middle  of  the  ruff;  end  of  tail 
wholly  black;  feet  large. 

Measurements  —  Total  length,  about  38  in.  (965  mm.);  tail  vertebrae,  4 
in.  (102  mm.);  hind  foot,  9.75  in.  (248  mm.). 

The  Canada  Lynx  is  now  a  comparatively  rare  animal  within  our 
limits  and  the  few  that  remain  are  confined  to  northern  Wisconsin, 
although  in  early  days  its  range  extended  considerably  further  south. 
There  is  always  more  or  less  likelihood  of  the  untrained  observer  con- 
founding the  Wild  Cat  (L.  rujfus)  with  this  animal,  and  many  records 
are  untrustworthy  for  that  reason  ;  but  there  are  numerous  well  authen- 
ticated instances  of  its  occurrence  in  Indiana  (see  Hahn,  1.  c.,  p.  544); 
and  Kennicott  includes  it  in  his  list  of  mammals  of  Cook  Co.,  Illinois 
(/.  c.,  p.  579).  I  have  seen  specimens  (skins  or  skulls)  from  Douglas 


288     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        289 

and  Iron  counties,  Wisconsin;  and  Jackson  records  it  from  Ashland, 
Bayfield,  Iron,  Oneida  and  Price  counties  (/.  c.,  1908,  p.  25).  The 
following  gentlemen  are  my  authorities  for  the  statement  that  the 
species  still  exists  in  a  number  of  counties  in  northern  Wisconsin: 
Door  Co.  (John  Weber,  Forestville) ;  Marinette  Co.  (George  A.  Williams, 
Kremlin) ;  Florence  Co.  (J.  E.  Parry,  Florence) ;  Taylor  Co.  (J.  W.  Benn, 
Medford);  Iron  Co.  (James  Miller,  Cedar);  Price  Co.  (W.  J.  Webster, 
Park  Falls) ;  Marathon  Co.  (George  F.  Erzwein,  Athens) ;  Douglas  Co. 
(N.  Lucins,  Jr.,  Solon  Springs) ;  Douglas  Co.  (George  W.  Zeon,  Foxboro). 

Mr.  Edward  G.  Kingsford  of  Iron  Mountain,  Michigan,  who  is  well 
acquainted  with  this  animal,  writes:  "There  are  quite  a  number  of 
Canada  Lynx  (Big-footed  Lynx)  in  this  country  now.  They  seem  to  be 
on  the  increase  since  the  passing  of  the  old  trappers.  It  is  quite  a 
common  thing  to  see  their  tracks  in  the  big  woods.  This  is  the  only 
thing  that  I  know  of  that  could  have  been  mistaken  for  a  Panther,  an 
animal  I  have  never  seen  or  heard  of  in  this  part  of  the  country." 
Old  trappers  claim  that  it  was  common  throughout  northern  Michigan 
in  early  days.* 

The  Canada  Lynx  preys  largely  upon  small  mammals,  such  as  Mice, 
Gophers,  Squirrels,  Rabbits  and  Hares,  especially  the  last,  but  it  also 
kills  large  game,  and  it  destroys  many  birds,  such  as  grouse  and  ducks, 
especially  during  the  breeding  season.  Hunters  inform  me  that  they 
occasionally  kill  Foxes  and  Porcupines,  but  they  probably  seldom  attack 
the  latter  unless  forced  to  do  so  by  lack  of  other  food.  Audubon  and 
Bachmanf  say:  "At  a  public  house  in  Canada  we  were  shown  the  skin 
of  one  of  these  Lynxes,  the  animal  having  been  found  quite  helpless 
and  nearly  dead  in  the  woods.  It  appears  that  leaping  onto  a  Por- 
cupine, it  had  caught  a  tarter,  as  its  head  was  greatly  inflamed  and  it 
was  nearly  blind.  Its  mouth  was  full  of  sharp  quills  of  that  well 
defended  animal,  which  would  in  a  day  or  two  have  occasioned  its 
death." 

Mr.  R.  MacFarlane  says,J  "It  feeds  on  eggs,  ducks,  partridges,  mice, 
stranded  fish,  and  occasionally  on  land  captured  beaver,  young  deer 
or  sheep,  while  rabbits,  of  course,  form  their  staple  article  of  diet.  It 
is  chiefly  taken  in  snares;  some  are  trapped,  and  others  are  followed  up 
with  dogs,  treed,  and  shot.  The  flesh  is  white  and  tender,  and  is  an 
important  and  much-relished  native  country  product.  The  female  is 

*  N.  A.  Wood  says,  "While  trapping  on  Sand  Point  in  1855-6,  Mr.  Fittenger 
took  fifteen  individuals  of  this  species,  He  was  apparently  very  sure  of  the  identity 
of  the  form,  distinguishing  it  from  the  Wild  Cat  by  the  long  ear  tufts  (Mich.  Geol. 
&  Biol.  Surv.  Pub.  for  1911,  p.  311). 

t  Quadrupeds  of  N.  Amer.,  I,  1846,  p.  138. 

J  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  XXVIII,  1905,  p.  692. 


290    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

said  to  bring  forth  from  two  to  five,  and  not  infrequently  as  many  as 
six,  at  a  birth  annually  in  June  and  July,  the  period  of  gestation  being 
about  three  months.  The  young  are  about  the  size  of  a  puppy,  with 
eyes  partly  open,  but  are  very  helpless  for  several  days.  They  are 
suckled  for  about  two  months." 

It  is  claimed  that  full-grown  Deer  are  occasionally  killed  by  these 
animals.  Numerous  instances  are  cited  by  Mr.  E.  T.  Seton,*  as  well 
as  several  of  the  older  writers,  including  Audubon  and  Bachman. 
Mr.  S.  N.  Rhoads  states, f  "They  will  not  hesitate  to  fasten  them- 
selves on  the  necks  of  deer,  trusting  to  bring  them  down  by  sheer 
exhaustion  and  blood  letting  before  the  deer  can  manage  to  drag  them 
off  by  running  through  brush  or  branches  of  thick  trees,  or  by  jumping 
in  the  water." 

It  is  extremely  doubtful  if  a  Canada  Lynx  will  ever  attack  man 
unless  wounded  or  cornered  so  that  it  cannot  escape,  but  I  can  say 


Map  illustrating  approximate  range  of  the  Canada  Lynx  (Lynx  canadensis)  in  eastern  United 
States  and  Canada.     Its  range  formerly  extended  as  far  south  as  Illinois  and  Indiana. 

*  Life  Histories  of  Northern  Animals,  II,  1909,  pp.  692-693. 
t  Mamm.  of  Penn.,  1903,  p.  140. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        291 

nothing  regarding  this  from  personal  experience,  having  killed  but  two  of 
these  animals,  one  in  a  tree  and  another  which  had  been  caught  in  a  trap. 
The  fur  has  a  high  commercial  value  and  the  skins  are  much  used 
by  trappers  and  hunters,  as  they  make  exceedingly  warm,  soft  robes. 

Specimens  examined  from  Wisconsin  and  adjoining  states: 
Wisconsin —  (O.  C.)  Gordon,  Douglas  Co.  (skull),  i;  Mercer,  Iron  Co. 

(skull),  i;  Fisher  Lake,  Iron  Co.  (skull),  i. 
Ontario,  Canada,  i. 

Subgenus  EUCERVARIA  Palmer. 

Lynx  ruffus  (GULDENSTAEDT). 

WILD  CAT.    BAY  LYNX.    BOB  CAT. 

Felis  ruff  a  GULDENSTAEDT,  Nov.  Comm.  Acad.  Scient.  Imp.  Petrop.,  XX,  1775 
(1776),  p.  484. 

Lyncus  rufus  LAPHAM,  Trans.  Wis.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  II,  1852  (1853),  p.  339  (Wis- 
consin). 

Lynx  rufus  KENNICOTT,  Trans.  111.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  1853-54  (l855)>  P-  579  (Cook  Co., 
(Illinois).  THOMAS,  Trans.  111.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  IV,  1859-60  (1861),  p.  653 
(Illinois).  MILES,  Rept.  Geol.  Surv.  Mich.,  I,  1860  (1861),  p.  219  (Michigan). 
ALLEN,  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  XIII,  1869  (1871),  p.  181  (Iowa).  STRONG, 
Geol.  Wis.,  Surv.  1873-79,  I>  I883,  p.  436  (Wisconsin).  .TYRRALL,  Mamm.  of 
Canada,  Toronto,  1888,  p.  9  (Ontario).  HERRICK,  Geol.  &  Nat.  Hist.  Surv.  Minn., 
Bull.  No.  7,  1892,  p.  7  (Minnesota).  EVERMANN  &  BUTLER,  Proc.  Ind.  Acad. 
Sci.,  1893  (I894),  p.  138  (Indiana).  GARMAN,  Bull.  Essex  Inst.,  XXVI,  1894, 
p.  3  (Kentucky).  RHOADS,  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  1896  (1897),  p.  201 
(Tennessee).  SNYDER,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  II,  1902,  p.  123  (Wisconsin). 

Lynx  ruffus  ADAMS,  Rept.  State  Board  Geol.  Surv.  Mich.,  1905  (1906),  p.  130 
(Michigan).  JACKSON,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  VI,  1908,  p.  25  (Wisconsin). 
Ib.,  VII,  1910,  p.  89  (Wisconsin).  HAHN,  Ann.  Rept.  Dept.  Geol.  &  Nat. 
Resources  Ind.,  1908  (1909),  p.  240  (Indiana). 

Type  locality  —  New  York. 

Distribution  —  In  eastern  North  America,  from  southern  Canada  to  the 

Gulf  states;  replaced  in  Nova  Scotia,  Florida  and  the  West  by 

allied  forms. 
Description  —  General  color  pale  rufous  brown,  more  or  less  tinged  with 

grayish ;  legs  and  head  showing  more  or  less  dark  spots  or  streaks ; 

end  of  tail  black  above,  white  below;  a  streak  of  dark  brown  mixed 

with  black  extends  down  the  middle  of  the  back;  upper  neck  tinged 

with  darker  rufous  brown;  throat  with  distinct  brownish    collar; 

belly  white,  with  blackish  streaks  or  spots ;  feet  comparatively  small ; 

ear  tufts  blackish,  usually  about  i  in.  or  less  in  length. 
Measurements  —  Total  length,  about  36  in.  (914  mm.);  tail  vertebras, 

6.50  in.  (165  mm.);  hind  foot,  7  in.  (178  mm.). 


292     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        293 

The  Wild  Cat  or  Bay  Lynx  was  formerly  numerous  throughout 
Illinois  and  Wisconsin,  but  at  the  present  time  they  have  disappeared 
from  the  more  settled  portions  of  the  country.  They  are  still  found 
in  more  or  less  numbers  in  extreme  southern  Illinois  and  are  common 
in  northern  Wisconsin;  specimens  are  also  occasionally  taken  in  iso- 
lated localities  throughout  both  states.  Records  of  its  capture  are  too 
numerous  to  give  in  detail,  as  a  few  are  killed  every  year  in  most  of 
the  northern  counties  of  Wisconsin;  farther  south  it  becomes  rather 
rare,  although  I  have  authentic  records  of  its  occurrence  in  Buffalo 
and  Vernon  counties  and  also  in  Fond  du  Lac  County,  Mr.  C.  E.  Brown 
of  Hamilton  having  killed  one  on  June  15,  1907.  Mr.  W.  E.  Snyder 
of  Beaver  Dam  has  six  specimens  in  his  collection,  killed  in  Ashland 
County,  Wisconsin,  in  1907  and  1908;  and  Mr.  F.  E.  Munroe  of  Lady 
Smith,  Rusk  Co.,  informs  me  that  in  the  fall  and  winter  one  or  more 
are  killed  nearly  every  week.  It  is  common  in  the  Michigan  peninsular. 
Mr.  Edward  G.  Kingsford  of  Iron  Mountain  writes  me  that  it  is  plenti- 
ful in  that  part  of  the  country. 

In  extreme  northern  Illinois  and  southern  Wisconsin  at  the  present 
time  it  occurs  only  as  a  rare  straggler.  There  is  a  specimen  in  the  Hoy 
collection  preserved  in  the  Carnegie  Public  Library  at  Racine,  Wiscon- 
sin, which  was  taken  in  Racine  County  at  an  early  date.  Jackson 
states  that  an  adult  male  was  trapped  at  Hawleys  Lake  six  miles  west 
of  Cable,  August  23,  1908,  and  another  was  taken  in  the  same  locality, 
December  21,  1908  (/.  c.,  1910,  p.  89).  Snyder  records  one  killed  in 
Dodge  County,  near  Alderly,  in  1898  (/.  c.,  p.  123).  It  has  been  lately 
reported  from  Jo  Daviess  Co.,  Illinois,  and  Kennicott  records  it  from 
Cook  Co.  (/.  c.,  p.  579),  although  none  has  been  observed  in  this  vicinity 
for  many  years.  There  is  a  specimen  in  the  Northwestern  University 
collection  at  Evanston,  taken  near  Rock  Island,  Illinois,  some  years 
ago..  In  extreme  southern  Illinois  I  have  trustworthy  information 
that  it  still  occurs  in  more  or  less  numbers  in  Galletin,  Pope,  Alexander, 
Jackson  and  Randolph  counties.  Mr.  J.  C.  Baker  of  Golconda,  Pope 
Co.,  informs  me  that  two  Wild  Cats  were  killed  in  that  vicinity  in  the 
winter  of  1907. 

The  habits  of  the  Wild  Cat,  Bob  Cat,  or  Bay  Lynx,  as  it  is  variously 
called,  are  not  very  different  from  those  of  the  Canada  Lynx.  It  con- 
tents itself  with  smaller  game,  however,  than  its  more  powerful  relative 
and  would  never  think  of  attacking  a  full  grown  Deer,  although  Indians 
in  Florida  tell  me  that  it  does  occasionally  kill  young  fawns.  It  sub- 
sists largely  upon  Rodents  of  various  kinds,  varied  with  birds  and  eggs 
and  occasionally  fish  when  it  can  find  them,  but  Rabbits  furnish  its 
main  supply  of  food.  Wild  Cats  are  very  fond  of  poultry.  I  have 


294    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 


KEEWATII*  „ 


Area  of  intergradaiion 


Map  illustrating  approximate  geographical  distribution  of  Wild  Cats  or  Bay  Lynxes  in  eastern 

North  America. 


Lynx  ruff  us  (GULDEN.).  Type  locality — New  York.  Description  as  previously 
given. 

Lynx  r.  floridanus  (RAFINESQUE).  (Amer.  Month.  Mag.,  II,  1817,  p.  46.)  Type 
locality  —  Florida.  Darker  than  ruffus,  with  stronger  markings  and  legs  com- 
paratively longer. 

Lynx  gigas  BANGS.  (Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XI,  1897,  p.  50.)  Type  locality — 
15  miles  from  Bear  River,  Nova  Scotia.  Decidedly  larger,  darker  and  blacker 
above  than  ruffus;  canine  teeth  longer. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        295 

trapped  many  of  them  by  placing  a  live  hen  in  a  box  frame  covered 
with  wire  netting  and  setting  steel  traps  on  opposite  sides.  In  running 
around  the  cage  trying  to  find  an  entrance,  the  animal  is  almost  certain 
to  be  caught  in  one  of  the  traps ;  but  they  are  very  suspicious  of  a  bait 
over  a  steel  trap  and  are  not  nearly  so  likely  to  be  taken  as  by  the 
method  above  described.  The  best  and  probably  the  only  satisfactory 
way  to  hunt  them  is  with  dogs.  Almost  any  dog  will  trail  a  Wild  Cat, 
as  the  scent  seems  to  be  very  strong.  In  fact  in  the  South,  where  they 
are  numerous,  they  are  a  nuisance  when  one  is  hunting  Panthers  or 
Bear,  as  the  hounds  will  often  leave  the  trail  of  these  animals  and  follow 
the  later  made  track  of  a  Wild  Cat.  When  chased  by  hounds  Wild 
Cats  will  very  often  run  in  a  circle,  going  over  the  same  trail  again  and 
again  unless  pressed  too  closely  by  the  dogs.  Sometimes,  however, 
they  will  take  to  a  tree  at  once,  or  again  run  straight  for  a  long  distance 
before  doing  so.  Usually  a  full  grown  Wild  Cat  is  more  than  a  match 
for  any  dog,  but  one  of  my  powerful  bear  dogs  once  caught  a  large  one 
on  the  ground  and  killed  it  alone,  although  he  was  rather  badly  scratched 
in  the  encounter.  Unlike  many  animals,  unless  taken  very  young  they 
never  become  tame  in  captivity.  Several  which  I  have  kept  for  more 
than  a  year  were  as  vicious  as  when  first  taken,  and  always  snarled  and 
growled  savagely  whenever  I  approached  the  cage. 

The  young  are  born  in  some  sort  of  a  den,  often  a  hollow  tree  or  log, 
and  number  from  two  to  four.  The  flesh  is  palatable  and  far  better, 
in  my  opinion,  than  that  of  Raccoon  or  Opossum.  This  statement  has 
the  support  of  Dr.  C.  Hart  Merriam  who  says,*  "I  have  eaten  the  flesh 
of  the  "Wild  Cat,  and  can  pronounce  it  excellent.  It  is  white  and  very 
tender,  and  suggests  veal  more  than  any  other  meat  with  which  I  am 
familiar." 

Specimens  examined  from  Illinois,  Wisconsin  and  adjoining  states: 
Wisconsin —  (O.  C.)  Bayfield  Co.  (skull),  i ;  Gordon,  Douglas  Co.  (skull), 

i;  Langlade  Co.  (adults),  3;  (S.  C.)  Ashland  Co.  (skulls),  6  =  n. 
Illinois  —  Rock  Island  Co. ,  i .     (In  Northwestern  University  collection.) 
Minnesota  —  Aitken,  i. 

*  Mamm.  Adirondack  Reg.,  1886,  p.  41. 


296     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 

Family  CANID^E.      Wolves,  Foxes,  Dogs, 

etc. 

This  family  comprises  the  dog-like  animals,  including  the  Wolves, 
Foxes,  Jackalls,  etc.;  and  is  practically  cosmopolitan,  representatives 
being  found  in  all  the  continents  and  many  of  the  larger  islands  except 
New  Zealand  and,  perhaps,  Australia,  as  there  is  some  doubt  as  to 
whether  the  Wild  Dog  of  the  latter  country  is  the  descendant  of  an  in- 
digenous or  an  introduced  species.  Unlike  the  Cats,  the  claws  of  these 
animals  are  not  retractile,  sharp,  or  curved,  and  are  of  little  use  to  them 
in  capturing  prey,  their  only  weapons  of  offense  being  their  powerful 
jaws  and  teeth.  In  the  Canida  a  cascum  is  always  present  and,  while 
in  some  species  it  is  short  and  simple,  in  others  it  is  of  fair  size  and  is 
often  more  or  less  coiled  and  twisted;  that  of  an  average  size  dog, 
when  uncoiled,  is  usually  about  5  or  6  inches  in  length.  Other  char- 
acters for  this  family  are,  inflated  but  only  partially  divided  audital 
bullae,  the  septum  being  incomplete;  alisphenoid  canal  present;  four 
premolars  on  each  side  of  both  jaws  and  upper  carnassial  with  two  cusps. 

Prof.  Huxley  divided  the  numerous  species  belonging  to  this  family 
in  two  series:  The  Lupine  or  wolf -like  forms,  and  the  Vulpine,  consist- 
ing of  the  Foxes  and  their  allies.  The  latter  hunt  in  a  stealthy  manner 
and  generally  prey  upon  animals  smaller  than  themselves.  The  Lupine 
forms,  on  the  contrary,  are  larger,  bolder  and  more  powerful,  and  when 
gathered  together  in  packs  will  pursue  and  kill  large  animals,  such  as 
Buffalo,  Elk  and  Deer,  and  when  pressed  by  hunger  will  even  attack 
man. 

In  Russia  and  other  parts  of  northern  Europe,  Wolves  are  greatly 
feared  by  the  peasants  in  sparsely  settled  districts,  and  much  has  been 
written  by  ancient  writers,  such  as  Pliny,  Aristotle,  Topsell  and 
others,  regarding  their  ferocity  and  cunning,  who  vied  with  each  other 
in  lauding  the  sagacity  displayed  by  these  animals,  in  many  instances 
being  apparently  unable  to  separate  truth  from  fiction.  Writing  in 
1607,  Edward  Topsell  says,*  "It  is  also  worth  the  observation  how  he 


As  described  by  Topsell. 
*  Historic  of  Foure  Footed  Beastes,  London,  1607,  p.  739. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        297 

draweth  unto  him  a  Calf e  that  wandereth  from  the  dam ;  for  by  singular 
treacherie  he  taketh  him  by  the  nose,  first  drawing  him  forwarde,  and 
then  the  poore  beast  striveth  and  draweth  backward,  and  thus  they 
struggle  together,  one  pulling  one  way,  and  the  other  another,  till  at 
last  the  Wolfe  perceiving  advantage,  and  feeling  when  the  Calfe  pulleth 
heavyest,  suddenly  he  letteth  go  his  hold,  whereby  the  poore  beast 
falleth  back  upon  his  buttocks,  and  so  doune  right  upon  his  backe; 
then  flyeth  the  Wolfe  to  his  belly  which  is  then  his  upperpart,  and 
easily  teareth  out  his  bowels,  so  satisfieng  his  hunger-greedy  appetite; 
But  if  they  chance  to  see  a  Beast  in  the  water,  or  in  the  marsh  em- 
combred  with  mire,  they  come  round  about  him,  stopup  al  the  passages 
where  he  shold  come  out,  baying  at  him,  and  threatning  him,  so  as  the 
poore  distressed  Oxe  plunge th  himself  many  times  over  head  and  ears, 
or  at  the  least  wise  they  so  vex  him  in  the  mire,  that  they  never  suffer 
him  to  come  out  alive.  At  last  when  they  perceive  him  to  be  dead 
and  cleane  without  life  by  suffocation,  It  is  notable  to  observe  their 
singular  subtility  to  draw  him  out  of  the  mire,  whereby  they  may  eat 
him;  for  one  of  them  goeth  in,  and  taketh  the  beast  by  the  taile,  who 
draweth  with  all  the  power  he  can,  for  wit  without  strength  may  better 
kill  a  live  Beast,  than  remove  a  dead  one  out  of  the  mire ;  therefore  he 
looketh  behind  him  and  calleth  for  more  helpe,  then  presently  another 
of  the  Wolves  taketh  the  first  Wolves  tail  in  his  mouth,  and  the  third 
Wolfe  the  seconds,  a  fourth  the  thirds,  a  fifth  the  fourths,  and  so  for- 
ward, encreasing  their  strength,  until  they  have  pulled  the  beast  out 
into  the  dry  lande." 

Domestic  Dogs  of  the  present  day  are  members  of  this  family  and 
are  claimed  to  be  divisible  into  nearly  two  hundred  so-called  species 
or  varieties.  Their  ancestry  is  veiled  by  the  mist  of  ages,  although  it  is 
probable  that  they  are  descendants  of  several  wild  species  including 
Wolves  and  Jackals ;  but  they  have  become  so  differentiated  by  admix- 
ture during  the  centuries  they  have  existed  in  a  non-feral  condition  that 
the  characters  of  the  original  type  or  types  have  been  lost.  Beddard 
says,  "There  seems  to  be  no  doubt  that  the  Dog  was  the  'friend  of 
man '  in  very  early  times.  Its  remains  have  been  met  with  in  Danish 
kitchen-middens,  in  the  lake-dwellings  of  the  Swiss  lakes,  and  during  the 
Bronze  Age  in  Europe  generally.  But  '  there  are  few  more  vexed  ques- 
tions in  the  archaeology  of  natural  history  than  the  origin  of  the  Dog.' 
Its  remains  already  referred  to  may  in  many  cases  have  argued  its  use 
as  food.  But  in  a  Neolithic  barrow  a  Dog  was  found  buried  with  a 
woman,  the  skeleton  of  both  being  in  situ;  this  animal  was  about  the 
size  of  a  Shepherd  Dog."* 

*  Mammalia,  1902,  p.  422. 


FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 


i.  Skull  of  Gray  Wolf  (Canis);  2,  skull  of  Gray  Fox  (Urocyon);  3,  skull  of  Red  Fox  (Vulpes). 

(About  y*  nat.  size.j 


KEY  TO   THE   GENERA. 

Group  1.  Postorbital  process  of  frontal  bone  rounded,  with  end  curving  down- 
ward; upper  incisors  with  well-marked  lobes  or  notches  on  sides;  temporal 
crests  joining  and  extending  in  a  single  parietal  ridge  or  sagittal  crest  (low 
in  the  Prairie  Wolves  or  Coyotes,  but  conspicuously  high  in  the  adults  of  the 
large  Timber  Wolves) ;  a  frontal  sinus  present. 

Genus  CANIS,  Wolves,  p.  313. 

Group  2.  Postorbital  process  of  frontal  bone  concave,  with  its  anterior  outer 
edge  turned  slightly  upward;  some  of  the  upper  incisors  very  slightly  lobate 
or  notched  or  not  at  all;  no  frontal  sinus  present. 

A.  Temporal  crests  widely  separated,  at  least  .75  inch  apart  in  adult;  upper 
incisors  not  notched;  long  hairs  of  tail  rather  coarse,  with  central  ridge  of 
black  hairs;  posterior  angle  of  under  jaw  abruptly  emarginate  below. 

Genus  UROCYON,  Gray  Foxes,  p.  300. 

B.  Temporal  crests  much  nearer  together;  some  of  the  upper  incisors  very 
slightly  notched;  hairs  on  tail  long  and  soft,  mixed  with  soft  fur;  posterior 
portion  of  under  jaw  not  abruptly  emarginate  below. 

Genus  VULPES,  Red  Foxes,  p.  305. 


FEE,.  1912.     MAMMALS  or  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        299 

KEY  TO   THE   SPECIES. 

(ADULTS.) 

GROUP  1.     Total  length  (nose  to  end  of  tail  vertebrae)  more  than  43  inches;  sides 
of  neck  not  red  brown  or  yellow  brown;  pupil  of  eye  round. 

Color  variable,  gray  usually  predominating;  tail  vertebrae  more  than  9  inches 
long;  diameter  of  upper  canine  teeth  at  base  .50  inch  or  more;  width  of  nose 
pad  more  than  1.25  inches.  GRAY  WOLF  OR  TIMBER  WOLF. 

Canis  nubilus,  p.  313. 

Color  similar  to  preceding  species;  tail  vertebrae  less  than  9  inches  long;  diameter 
of  upper  canine  teeth  at  base  less  than  .50  inch,  usually  .4  inch  or  less;  width 
of  nose  pad  less  than  1.25  inches.  COYOTE  OR  PRAIRIE  WOLF. 

Canis  latrans,  p.  322. 

GROUP  2.     Total  length  less  than  43  inches;  pupil  of  eye  elliptical. 
SECTION   i.  Sides  of  neck  red  brown  or  reddish  yellow. 

PART  i .     Back  and  sides  of  body  red  brown  or  reddish  yellow ;  long  hairs  on 

tail  mixed  with  soft  under  fur. 

Feet  and  considerable  portion  of  legs  blackish;  throat  white;  no  distinct 

red  brown  band  on  chest.  RED  Fox.     Vulpes  fulvus,  p.  305. 

PART  2.     Back  and  sides  of  body  not  red  brown  or  reddish  yellow;  hair  on 

tail  rather  coarse,  not  mixed  with  soft  under  fur. 

Back  grayish,  the  hair  blended  with  black  and  grayish  white;  sides  of 
neck  red  brown;  a  well  marked  red  brown  band  on  chest;  total  length 
usually  less  than  37  inches.  Occurs  within  our  limits  in  central 
and  southern  Illinois.  GRAY  Fox.  Urocyon  cinereoargenteus,  p.  300. 
Similar  to  last,  but  larger;  rusty  brown  markings  darker  and  more 
ferrugineous ;  total  length  usually  37  inches  or  more.  Occurs  within 
our  limits  in  southern  Wisconsin  and  perhaps  in  northern  Illinois. 

WISCONSIN  GRAY  Fox.     Urocyon  c.  ocythous,  p.  303. 
SECTION  2.     Sides  of  neck  not  red  brown  or  reddish  yellow;  long  hairs  of 

tail  mixed  with  soft  under  fur. 

General  color  black,  hairs  more  or  less  tipped  with  white  (Black  Fox  or 
Silver  Fox) ;  or  general  color  more  or  less  fulvous  and  gray,  but  with  a 
black  stripe  across  the  shoulders  and  another  down  middle  of  the 
back  (Cross  Fox).  These  are  color  phases  of  the  Red  Fox  (Vulpes 
fulvus)  known  as  BLACK  Fox,  SILVER  Fox,  and  CROSS  Fox. 


KEY  TO  THE   SPECIES. 

(YOUNG.) 

The  following  characters  by  which  the  young  (pups)  of  the  various 
species  may  be  recognized  are  given  by  Mr.  Vernon  Bailey  (Circular 
No.  69,  Bureau  of  Biological  Survey,  1909,  p.  2): 

"Muzzle  blackish  at  birth,  fading  in  a  month  or  6  weeks  to  grayish.  Head  grayish, 
in  decided  contrast  to  black  of  back,  nose  and  ears.  Ears  black  at  tips,  fading  to 
grayish  in  a  month  or  6  weeks.  Tail  black,  fading  to  gray  with  black  tip." 

GRAY  WOLF  OR  TIMBER  WOLF.     Canis  nubilus,  p.  313. 


300    FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 

"Muzzle  tawny,  or  yellowish  brown,  becoming  more  yellowish  with  age.  Head 
yellowish  gray,  not  strongly  contrasted  with  rest  of  body.  Ears  dark  brown  at 
tips  and  back,  soon  fading  to  yellowish  brown.  Tail  black,  fading  to  gray  with 
black  tip."  COYOTE  OR  PRAIRIE  WOLF.  Canis  latrans,  p.  322. 

"Muzzle  blackish.  Head  grayish,  face  tack  of  eyes  sharply  pepper  and  salt  gray. 
Ears  large,  back  of  ears  dusky  at  tip,  fulvous  at  base.  Tail  with  tip  black  at 
all  ages."  GRAY  Fox.  Urocyon  cinereoargenteus,  p.  300. 

"Muzzle  blackish.  Head  dusky  with  sides  of  face  light  yellowish.  Ears  large, 
nearly  the  whole  back  of  ears  bright  black  at  all  ages.  Tail  dusky,  tip  white 
at  all  ages."  RED  Fox.  Vulpes  fulvus,  p.  305. 


Genus  UROCYON  Baird. 

Urocyon   Baird,    Mammals   N.   Amer.,    1857,    p.    121.     Type    Canis 
virginianus  Erxleben. 

Temporal  crests  widely  separated;  posterior 
angle  of  lower  jaw  abruptly  emarginate  below;  upper 
incisors  not  distinctly  notched;  lower  sectorial  tooth 
with  supplementary  tubercle;  postorbital  process 
of  frontal  bone  concave,  with  its  anterior  outer  edge 
turned  slightly  upward;  no  frontal  sinus  present; 
tail  with  central  ridge  of  coarse  black  hairs. 


Upper  view  of  skull. 
(Much  reduced.) 


Dental  formula: 

3-3         i 

-  - 


3~3 


4-4 


3-3 


Urocyon  cinereoargenteus  (SCHREBER). 
GRAY  Fox. 

Canis  cinereoargenteus  SCHREBER,  Saughthiere  III,  1775,  pi.  XCII. 

Vulpes  (Urocyon)  virginianus  BAIRD,  Mammals  N.  Amer.,  1857,  p.  143  (Illinois). 

Urocyon  cinereoargenteus  EVERMANN  &  BUTLER,  Proc.  Ind.  Acad.  Sci.,  1893  (1894), 
p.  138  (Indiana).  HAHN,  Ann.  Kept.  Dept.  Geol.  &  Nat.  Resources  Ind.,  1908 
(1909),  p.  548  (Indiana).  HOWELL,  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XXIII,  1910,  p. 
32  (Illinois).  WOOD,  Bull.  111.  State  Lab.  Nat.  Hist.,  VIII,  1910,  p.  572. 

Type  locality  —  Eastern  North  America. 

Distribution  —  New  York  and  New  Jersey  to  Georgia,  west  to  the  Mis- 
sissippi Valley  and  north  at  least  to  north-central  Illinois;  exact 
limits  of  range  not  definitely  determined. 

Description  —  Adult:  General  color  of  back  and  sides  grayish,  the  hairs 
being  banded  with  black  and  grayish  white;  sides  of  the  neck  and  a 
band  across  the  chest  red  brown;  ears,  inner  surface  of  legs,  sides  of 
belly  and  under  surface  of  tail  also  more  or  less  red  brown,  the 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        301 

extent  and  intensity  of  the  color  variable;  throat  and  greater  por- 
tion of  belly  whitish ;  sides  of  nose  and  under  jaw  blackish;  a  ridge  of 
black  hairs  extends  down  middle  of  upper  surface  of  tail. 

Young  pups  have  the  muzzle  blackish ;  the  head  grayish ;  the  back 
of  the  ears  fulvous  at  the  base  and  dusky  at  the  tip ;  tail  with  black 
tip. 

Measurements  —  Total  length,  about  35.50  in.  (900  mm.);  tail  ver- 
tebrae, about  11.50  in.  (282  mm.);  hind  foot,  5.25  in.  (133  mm.). 
The  Gray  Fox  was  formerly  not  uncommon  in  parts  of  Illinois,  but 
of  late  years  it  seems  to  have  become  scarce  in  most  localities  except  in 
the  extreme  southern  portion  of  the  state.  In  spite  of  repeated  attempts 
to  obtain  specimens,  I  have  been  able  to  secure  but  one,  a  fine  male 
from  Petersburg,  Menard  Co.  Mr.  S.  J.  Miller  of  Millersville  informs 
me  they  are  occasionally  killed  in  Christian  County;  they  are  reported 
to  occur  in  more  or  less  numbers  in  Hardin  County  by  Mr.  N.  J.  Aydlott 
of  Rosiclare,  and  in  Alexander  County  by  Messrs.  W.  L.  Conrad  and 
Wm.  Rabb  of  Olive  Branch.  Mr.  John  Johnson  writes  me  it  is  found 
in  the  vicinity  of  Wolf  Lake,  Union  Co.  Mr.  Howell  states  they  were 
reported  from  Lick  Creek,  Union  Co.  (I.  c.,  p.  32).  Kennicott  states 
that  Gray  Foxes  were  formerly  not  uncommon  in  Cook  County,*  but 
I  have  been  unable  to  learn  of  their  present  occurrence  in  northern 
Illinois  except  in  the  extreme  northern  counties  where  Gray  Foxes 
are  reported  as  being  occasionally  taken.  I  have  reliable  information 
that  several  have  been  killed  in  Jo  Daviess  County,  but  have  not  seen 
specimens  from  that  locality  and  it  is  probable  they  may  prove  to  be 
the  Wisconsin  Gray  Fox,  U.  c.  ocythous. 

The  Gray  Fox  prefers  a  wooded  country  away  from  settlements  and 
upon  the  advent  of  civilization  its  numbers  rapidly  decrease.  Its 
fondness  for  poultry  doubtless  equals  that  of  the  Red  Fox,  but  it  is 
seemingly  less  cunning,  as  it  is  more  easily  trapped  or  killed.  In  many 
parts  of  the  South  it  makes  its  den  in  hollow  trees  or  logs,  more  than 
in  burrows  in  the  ground;  but  in  Illinois  and  Indiana,  from  what  I 
have  been  able  to  learn,  the  majority  live  in  burrows.  Hahn  says,  in 
Indiana  "the  dens  do  not  differ  from  those  of  the  red  fox  but  they 
are  never  placed  out  in  the  open  fields  as  are  those  of  the  latter  species." 
(/.  c.,  p.  550.)  The  young  are  born  in  March  or  early  April,  the  num- 
ber usually  varying  from  4  to  6.  They  are  practically  omnivorous: 
their  principal  food  consists  of  various  species  of  Rodents,  (Mice,  Rats, 
Rabbits,  etc.),  but  they  also  eat  birds,  eggs,  some  berries  and  occasional- 
ly dead  fish,  reptiles  and  insects.  When  chased  by  dogs  they  often 
seek  refuge  in  low  branched  trees.  I  once  shot  a  Gray  Fox  in  a  low 
pine  tree  where  it  had  climbed  among  the  branches  about  seven  feet 
*  Trans  111.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  I,  1853-54  (1855),  p.  578. 


302 


FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        303 

from  the  ground.  Audubon  and  Bachman  say,*  "We  were  unable  to 
obtain  any  information  in  regard  to  the  manner  in  which  the  Fox  climbs 
trees,  as  he  does  not  possess  the  retractile  nails  of  the  cat  or  the  sharp 
claws  of  the  squirrel,  until  we  saw  the  animal  in  the  act.  At  one  time 
when  we  thus  observed  the  fox,  he  first  leaped  on  a  low  branch  four 
or  five  feet  from  the  ground,  from  whence  he  made  his  way  upward  by 
leaping  cautiously  and  rather  awkwardly  from  branch  to  branch,  till 
he  attained  a  secure  position  in  the  largest  fork  of  a  tree,  where  he 
stopped.  On  another  occasion,  he  ascended  in  a  manner  of  a  bear,  but 
with  far  greater  celerity,  by  clasping  the  stem  of  a  small  pine.  We 
have  since  been  informed  that  the  Fox  also  climbs  trees  occasionally 
by  the  aid  of  his  claws,  in  the  manner  of  a  raccoon  or  a  cat.  During 
winter  only  about  one  fifth  of  the  Foxes  chased  by  hounds  will  take 
to  a  tree  before  they  suffer  themselves  to  be  run  down;  but  in  summer, 
either  from  the  warmth  of  the  weather,  causing  them  to  be  soon  fatig- 
ued, or  from  the  greater  number  being  young  animals,  they  seldom  con- 
tinue on  foot  beyond  thirty  or  forty  minutes  before  they  fly  for  protec- 
tion to  a  tree." 

Specimens  examined  from  Illinois: 
Illinois  —  Petersburg,  Menard  Co.,  i ;  (N.  M.)  Mt.  Carmel,  1  =  2. 

Urocyon  cinereoargenteus  ocythous  BANGS. 
WISCONSIN  GRAY  Fox. 

Urocyon  cinereoargenteus  ocythous  BANGS,  Proc.  New  Eng.  Zool.  Club,  I,  1899,  p. 
43.  JACKSON,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  VI,  1908,  p.  26  (Wisconsin).  Ib, 
VIII,  1910,  p.  89  (Wisconsin).  HOLLISTER,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  VI, 
1908,  p.  140  (Wisconsin). 

Vulpes  virginianus  LAPHAM,  Trans.  Wis.  Agr.  Soc.,  II,  1852  (1853),  p.  339  (Wiscon- 
sin). ?KENNICOTT,  Trans.  111.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  I,  1853-54  (I855),  p.  578  (Cook 
County,  Illinois).  STRONG,  Geol.  Wis.,  Surv.  1873-79,  I.  1883,  p.  436  (Wiscon- 
sin). ?ALLEN,  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  XIII,  1869  (1871),  p.  182  (Iowa). 

Type  locality  —  Platteville,  Grant  County,  Wisconsin. 

Distribution  —  Upper  Mississippi  Valley;  exact  limits  of  range  not 
satisfactorily  determined. 

Description  —  Similar  to  U.  cinereoargenteus,  but  larger;  tail  longer 
and  hind  foot  larger;  the  back  and  sides  less  gray,  showing  a  yellow- 
ish tinge;  the  red  brown  on  various  parts  of  body  more  ferrugineous. 

Measurements  —  Total  length,  9,  40.30  in.  (1024  mm.);  tail  verte- 
brae, 15.25  in.  (386  mm.);  hind  foot,  5.35  in.  (136  mm.).  Meas- 
urements in  millimeters  as  given  by  Bangs:  Total  length,  d\ 
39.50  in.  (1005  mm.);  tail  vetebrae,  14.50  in.  (365  mm.);  hind 
foot,  5.70  inches  (145  mm.). 
*  Quadrupeds  of  N.  Amer.,  I,  1846,  p.  167. 


304    FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 

The  range  of  the  Wisconsin  Gray  Fox  is  not  definitely  known,  but 
it  probably  occurs  throughout  the  greater  portion  of  Wisconsin  and 
also  in  northern  Illinois.  Kennicott  states  that  Gray  Foxes  were 
formerly  not  uncommon  in  Cook  Co.,  Illinois  (/.  c.,  p.  578),  which  may 
or  "may  not  have  been  this  form.  I  have  seen  no  specimens  from  this 


fmUrocyon  clnereoargente 


Map  showing  the  type  localities  of  races  of  Gray  Foxes  in  eastern  United  States.     The  range 
limits  of  the  various  forms  have  not  been  satisfactorily  determined. 

Urocyon  cinereoargenteus  (SCHREBER).  Type  locality  —  Eastern  North  America, 
probably  Carolina  or  Virginia.  Description  as  previously  given. 

Urocyon  c.  ocythous  BANGS.  Type  locality  —  Platteville,  Grant  County,  Wiscon- 
sin. Description  as  previously  given. 

Urocyon  c.  floridanus  RHOADS.  (Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  1895,  p.  42.)  Type 
locality  —  Tarpon  Springs,  Hillsboro  County,  Florida.  Smaller  than  cinereo- 
argenteus; breast  paler,  but  without  white  under  parts. 

Urocyon  c.  borealis  MERRIAM.  (Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XVI,  1903,  p.  74.)  Type 
locality  —  Marlboro,  near  Monadnock,  New  Hampshire.  "Similar  to  cine- 
reoargenteus, but  decidedly  larger,  with  marked  skull  and  tooth  differences." 
(Merriam). 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        305 

locality,  but  it  would  be  expected  to  intergrade  with  U.  cinereoargenteus 
in  northern  Illinois.  The  type  was  taken  in  Grant  County,  Wisconsin, 
and  Hollister  records  two  specimens  which  he  collected  at  Delavan, 
Walworth  Co.  (/.  c.,  p.  140).  Jackson  records  it  from  Dunn  County, 
(/.  c.,  1908,  p.  26);  he  also  states  there  is  a  specimen  in  the  University 
of  Wisconsin  collection  at  Madison  taken  in-Lema  Township,  Pepin 
Co.,  in  1907  and  scalps  from  Jackson,  Dunn  and  Adams  counties 
(I.  c.,  1910,  p.  89).  There  is  a  specimen  in  the  Milwaukee  Public  Museum 
from  Prescott,  Pierce  Co.,  and  hunters  have  reported  Gray  Foxes  from 
Jefferson  County.  Gray  Foxes  are  reported  from  Jo  Daviess  Co., 
Illinois,  but  I  have  seen  no  specimens  from  that  locality.  The  habits 
of  this  northern  race  probably  do  not  differ  from  those  of  the  Gray 
Fox. 

Specimens  examined  from  Wisconsin  : 
Wisconsin  —  (B.  S.)  Delavan,  Walworth  Co.,  i;  (M.  P.M.)  Prescott, 

Pierce  Co.,  1  =  2. 

A 
Genus  VULPES  Brisson. 

Vulpes  Brisson,  Regn.  Anim.,   2nd  ed.,   1762,  p.    173.     Type  Canis 

vulpes  Linnaeus. 

Nasal  bones  not  extending  back  of  maxillaries;  temporal  crests 
not  widely  separated  as  in  Urocyon;  frontal  sinus  absent;  posterior 
portion  of  under  jaw  not  abruptly  emarginate; 
upper  incisors  not  noticeably  lobed;  postorbital 
process  of  frontal  bone  concave  above,  the  anterior 
outer  edge  turned  slightly  upward;  nose  elongated 
and  tapering;  tail  soft,  long  and  -bushy;  pupil  of 
eye  elliptical. 

Dental  formula: 


3Z3 


C.         ,  Pm. 


Upper  view  of  skull.  3  ~  3  I~I  4  ~  4  3  ~  3 

(Much  reduced.) 

Vulpes  fulvus  (DESMAREST). 
RED  Fox. 

BLACK  Fox,  SILVER  Fox,  CROSS  Fox  (color  phases  of  the  Red  Fox) . 

Canis  fulvus  DESMAREST,  Mammalogie,  I,  1820,  p.  203. 

Vulpes  fulvus  LAPHAM,  Trans,  Wis.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  II,  1852  (1853),  p.  339  (Wiscon- 
sin). KENNICOTT,  Trans.  111.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  I,  1853-54  (1855),  p.  578  (Cook 
County,  Illinois).  STRONG,  Geol.  Wis.,  Surv.  1873-79,  I,  1883,  p.  436  (Wiscon- 
sin). EVERMANN  &  BUTLER,  Proc.  Ind.  Acad.  Sci.,  1893  (1894),  p.  138  (Indiana). 


306    FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

SNYDER,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  II,  1902,  p.  122  (Wisconsin).  JACKSON, 
Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XX,  1907,  p.  74  (S.  W.  Missouri).  Ib.,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat. 
Hist.  Soc.,  VI,  1908,  p.  26  (Wisconsin).  HOLLISTER,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist. 
Soc.,  VI,  1908,  p.  140  (Wisconsin).  HAHN,  Ann.  Rept.  Dept.  Geol.  &  Nat. 
Resources  Ind.,  1908  (1909),  p.  552  (Indiana).  HOWELL,  Proc.  Biol.  Soc. 
Wash.,  XXIII,  1910,  p.  32  (Illinois  and  Kentucky). 

Vulpes  vulgaris  ALLEN,  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  XIII,  1869  (1871),  p.  182  (Iowa). 
HERRICK,  Geol.  &  Nat.  Hist.  Surv.  Minn.,  Bull.  No.  7,  1892,  p.  80  (Minnesota). 

Vulpes  fulva  WOOD,  Bull.  111.  State  Lab.  Nat.  Hist.,  VIII,  1910,  p.  571  (Illinois). 

Vulpes  fulvus  argentatus  SNYDER,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  II,  1902,  p.  122  (Wis- 
consin). 

Type  locality  —  Virginia. 

Distribution  —  North  America,  from  Hudson  Bay  to  northern  Georgia, 
west  to  Nebraska  and  in  the  Northwest  to  the  Saskatchewan  region ; 
replaced  in  Nova  Scotia, '  Newfoundland  and  the  West  by  allied 
forms. 

Description  —  Adult:  General  color  of  upper  parts  yellowish  brown, 
the  middle  reddish  brown;  throat,  middle  of  belly  and  under  sides 
of  legs  white  or  whitish,  often  more  or  less  tinged  with  dusky; 
front  of  legs  and  feet  largely  brownish  black;  terminal  half  of  upper 
surface  of  ears  dark  brown;  tail  yellowish  brown,  the  hairs  more  or 
less  tipped  with  brownish  black;  end  of  tail  white. 

Young  pups  have  the  muzzle  blackish ;  head  dusky,  with  sides  of 
face  light  yellowish  and  nearly  the  whole  of  the  back  of  ears  black ; 
tail  dusky  with  the  tip  white. 

Measurements — -Total  length,  about  38  in.  (965  mm.);  tail  verte- 
bras, 14.50  in.  (386  mm.);  hind  foot,  5.75  in.  (146.4  mm.). 
Remarks  —  The  so-called  Black  or  Silver  Fox  and  Cross  Fox  are  color 
phases  of  the  Red  Fox.  In  the  Black  or  Silver  phase  the  general 
color  is  black,  the  hairs  being  largely  tipped  with  white.  The  Cross 
Fox  has  a  black  streak  across  the  shoulders  and  another  down  the 
middle  of  the  back,  the  body  color  being  variable  but  showing  more 
or  less  gray  and  fulvous.  These  variations  in  pelage  were  at  one 
time  considered  to  represent  different  species  and  were  given  specific 
names.* 

The  Red  Fox  occurs  in  more  or  less  numbers  throughout  Illinois 
and  Wisconsin,  wherever  the  country  is  not  too  thickly  settled.  It  is 
common  in  most  parts  of  the  interior  of  both  states  and  I  have  examined 
specimens  from  Bayfield,  Ashland,  Iron,  Langlade,  Oconto  and  Dunn 
counties  in  northern  Wisconsin,  and  one  from  Alexander  Co.,  southern 
Illinois.  Howell  records  it  from  Union  County  (1.  c.,  1910,  p.  32), 
and  a  number  of  hunters  with  whom  I  have  corresponded  inform  me  it 
is  common  in  most  of  the  southern  counties. 

*  Silver  Fox,  Vulpes  argentatus;  Cross,  Fox,  Vulpes  decussatus. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        307 


308     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

The  Red  Fox  has  justly  acquired  a  reputation  for  shrewdness  and 
cunning  and  an  ability  to  avoid  traps  and  generally  take  care  of  himself 
not  exceeded  by  any  of  our  mammals,  as  anyone  who  is  well  acquainted 
with  him  can  testify. 

For  many  years  the  writer  had  a  somewhat  unusual  opportunity  for 
observing  these  animals  at  his  country  estate  at  Great  Island,  Massa- 
chusetts, where,  as  no  dogs  were  allowed  in  the  Deer  Park,  a  thickly 
wooded  enclosure  of  some  175  acres,  it  was  considered  a  most  desirable 
residence  by  Foxes,  especially  as  there  was  a  good  supply  of  Hares,  Rab- 
bits, quail  and  pheasants  to  be  found  there.  We  knew  of  several  dens 
which  seemed  to  be  always  occupied.  Young  Foxes  were  seen  playing 
about  them  each  spring  and  we  often  heard  them  barking  in  the  evening. 
One  of  these  dens  was  under  a  huge  split  boulder  in  open  ground  on  a 
sandy  peninsular  covered  with  coarse  beach  grass  at  least  half  a  mile 
from  trees;  the  others  were  burrows  in  the  ground  in  the  deep  woods. 
Their  numbers  apparently  increased  rapidly,  as  did  also  the  mortality 
among  the  pheasants  and  Hares,  and  it  was  therefore  decided  to  exter- 
minate them.  As  no  attempt  had  been  made  to  shoot  them,  they  had 
become  quite  bold  and  were  often  seen  trotting  leisurely  through  the 
woods  or  standing  watching  us  from  a  distance,  but  after  two  or  three 
were  shot,  the  others  became  very  shy.  During  the  winter  the  man  in 
charge  of  the  place  kept  a  dozen  or  more  traps  constantly  baited,  with 
the  result  that  some  twenty  Skunks  and  other  mammals  were  caught, 
but  no  Foxes.  During  the  next  few  years,  while  several  were  shot  and  a 
few  trapped,  their  numbers  did  not  seem  to  decrease  materially  and  all 
efforts  to  exterminate  them  by  shooting  or  trapping  proved  unavailing.* 

The  Red  Fox  makes  its  home  in  burrows  in  the  ground  and  at  times 
in  holes  in  rocks  or  ledges,  or  hollow  stumps,  and  the  young,  which 
generally  number  from  4  to  8,  are  born  late  in  March  or  early  in  April. 
It  is  both  nocturnal  and  diurnal  in  its  habits  and  is  practically  omniv- 
orous. Its  well-known  fondness  for  poultry  is  too  proverbial  to  require 
comment,  and  it  preys  upon  Muskrats,  Rabbits,  Skunks,  Mice,  Rats, 
birds'  eggs,  etc.,  etc.,  as  well  as  fish;  and  it  is  said  to  eat  grapes  and 
other  fruit. 

Regarding  their  depredations  in  the  poultry  yard,  Stone  and  Cram 
say,f  "I  have  known  a  fox  to  kill  three  or  four  full  grown  fowls  in  an 

*  This  was  undertaken  as  an  experiment  to  learn  if  Foxes  could  be  exterminated 
or  driven  away  from  a  place,  which  they  liked,  by  non-scientific  means,  such  as  would 
be  employed  by  the  average  farmer,  including  shooting  with  rifle  or  shot-gun  and 
trapping  with  various  kinds  of  traps  using  both  live  and  dead  bait,  including  Mice, 
chickens,  Rabbits,  etc.,  but  the  use  of  hounds,  poison  and  prepared  scents  being 
barred.  The  area  in  question  consisted  of  woodland  connected  with  the  mainland 
by  a  treeless,  sandy  peninsular  some  two  miles  in  length. 

t  American  Animals,  1902,  pp.  266-267. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        309 


310    FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 

orchard  close  to  a  farm  house  where  the  family  were  at  breakfast,  and 
yet  get  away  without  being  seen,  carrying  one  of  his  victims  with  him. 
On  another  occasion,  quite  recently,  one  of  my  neighbors  had  thirty 
pullets  taken  in  a  single  night.  Eighteen  of  them  were  found  next 
morning  in  a  heap  at  the  foot  of  an  oak  tree.  Another  farmer  tells  me 
that  he  has  lost  one  hundred  and  fifty  in  one  season,  all  presumably 
going  to  the  foxes. 

"Yet  although  the  farmer  and  the  fox  are  such  inveterate  enemies, 
they  manage  to  benefit  each  other  in  a  great  many  ways  quite  uninten- 
tionally. 

"The  fox  destroys  numberless  field  mice  and  woodchucks  for  the 
farmer,  and  in  return  the  farmer  supplies  him  with  poultry,  and  builds 
convenient  bridges  over  streams  and  wet  places,  which  the  fox  crosses 
oftener  than  the  farmer,  for  he  is  as  sensitive  as  a  cat  about  getting  his 
feet  wet. 

"On  the  whole  I  am  inclined  to  believe  that  the  fox  gets  the  best 
part  of  the  exchange,  for,  while  the  farmer  shoots  at  him  on  every  occa- 
sion, and  hunts  him  with  dogs  in  the  winter,  he  has  cleared  the  land  of 
wolves  and  panthers,  so  that  foxes  are  probably  safer  than  before  any 
land  was  ploughed. 

"When  the  snow  is  deep  the  farmer's  sled  makes  the  best  of  paths 
for  the  fox,  who  appropriates  them  for  his  own  use  just  as  unconcernedly 
as  he  does  the  regular  highway.  But  to  see  a  fox  get  round  the  farmer's 
dogs,  in  order  to  make  friends  with  them,  is  one  of  the  most  astonishing 
revelations  of  character.  Usually  the  dogs  seem  hardly  to  know  at 
first  what  to  make  of  his  advances,  but  the  fox  is  pretty  certain  to 
succeed  in  bringing  them  to  his  side  in  the  end,  and  after  that  they  may 
be  seen  playing  together  day  after  day. 

"If,  as  I  am  tempted  to  believe,  the  fox  really  works  this  scheme 
with  the  deliberate  purpose  of  making  it  safer  for  him  to  get  at  the 
farmer's  chickens,  he  is  gifted  with  a  degree  of  shrewdness  beyond 
anything  he  has  been  credited  with." 

Some  persons  are  able  to  imitate  the  squeak  of  a  Meadow  Mouse  and 
in  this  way  can  call  a  passing  Fox  to  within  a  short  distance  of  their  place 
of  concealment.  My  esteemed  friend,  Mr.  William  Brewster,  has  told 
me  he  has  done  this  successfully,  but  I  have  never  been  able  to  accom- 
plish the  feat,  probably  from  my  inability  to  properly  imitate  the 
"squeak."  An  interesting  account  of  an  experiment  of  this  character 
is  given  by  Stone  and  Cram,  who  say: 

"This  morning,  January  31,  1902,  a  little  before  noon  I  was  crossing 
an  open  clayey  pasture  when  I  heard  a  crow  in  the  distance  give  the  call 
which  means  a  fox  in  sight.  Presently  I  saw  Reynard  himself  trotting 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        311 

along  at  the  edge  of  a  pine  grove:  When  he  passed  behind  a  thick 
clump  I  ran  forward  a  little  way  and  stopped,  watching  an  opening 
among  the  trees  where  I  felt  pretty  certain  he  would  show  himself  again. 
Sure  enough  in  a  few  minutes  he  appeared  and  trotted  out  across  the 
meadows.  He  was  at  least  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards  away  and 
going  from  me,  but  the  air  was  still  and  I  squeaked  like  a  meadow  mouse, 
hoping  that  perhaps  his  big  ears  might  catch  the  sound  even  at  that 
distance,  though  the  sharpest  human  ears  could  scarcely  have  heard  so 
faint  a  noise  at  a  tenth  part  of  the  distance.  Yet  the  fox  heard  it  and 
stopped  instantly,  and  turning  came  leaping  lightly  over  the  hassocks 
in  my  direction.  Every  few  rods  he  stopped,  cocking  his  ears  above  the 
sere  meadow-grass  to  listen;  then  I  would  squeak  a  little  lower  each 
time,  and  instantly  catching  the  direction  of  the  sound,  he  would  come 
trotting  towards  me,  using  greater  caution  than  at  first,  and  keeping 
under  cover  of  the  hassocks  as  if  to  avoid  frightening  his  game.  When 
he  got  within  fifty  yards  there  were  no  more  hassocks  or  bunches  of 
grass  for  concealment,  only  the  smooth  sheep-trimmed  sod  where  I 
crouched  in  plain  sight,  with  my  back  to  what  little  sun  shone  through 
the  flecked  and  mottled  clouds  that  covered  the  sky.  He  looked  at 
me  sharply  as  if  distrusting  something,  and  if  I  had  moved  either 
my  head  or  hand  a  fraction  of  an  inch  he  would  have  been  off  like  an 
arrow  to  the  woods.  But  I  held  myself  perfectly  motionless,  and  when 
the  expression  of  his  shrewd,  gray  face  and  the  set  of  his  ears  showed 
that  his  suspicions  were  subsiding,  I  squeaked  once  more,  very  faintly, 
calling  him  at  last  almost  up  to  me.  But  now  he  saw  there  was  certainly 
something  wrong,  and  that  I  was  neither  a  rock  or  stump  or  even  an  old 
scarecrow,  so  to  make  sure  he  circled  round  to  get  the  wind  of  me, 
trusting  more  to  his  nostrils  than  to  his  eyesight.  He  was  a  large  male, 
gray  about  the  face  and  cheeks  and  perfectly  black  on  his  legs  and  the 
backs  of  his  ears.  His  tail  was  a  superb  white-tipped  brush,  well 
grizzled  with  black.  When  I  spoke  to  him  he  sprang  into  the  air  and 
went  bounding  away  to  the  woods,  then  stopped  and  looked  back  at 
me  for  a  few  seconds  before  disappearing  among  the  trees  "  (/.  c.,  p.  271). 

Young  Foxes  are  easily  tamed  and  make  interesting  pets,  but  my 
experience  has  been  that  they  are  not  affectionate  and  always  more  or 
less  treacherous. 

Specimens  examined  from  Illinois  and  Wisconsin: 
Illinois  —  Joliet,  i. 
Wisconsin  —  (M.  P.  M.)  Kelly  Brook,  Oconto  Co.,  5;  (O.  C.)  Mercer, 

Iron  Co.  (skulls)  2;  Bayfield  Co.  (skull),. i;  Ashland  Co.  (skull),  i; 

Langlade  Co.  (skull),  2;  Dunn  Co.  (skulls),  3;  (S.  C.)  Beaver  Dam, 

Dodge  Co.,  i ;  Cambria,  i  =  16. 


312     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 


Map  illustrating  approximate  distribution  of  Red  Foxes  in  eastern  North  America  south  of 

latitude  52°. 


Vulpes  fulvus  (DESMAREST).  Type  locality  —  Virginia.  Description  as  previously 
given. 

Vulpes  regalis  MERRIAM.  (Proc.  Wash.  Acad.  Sci.,  II,  1900,  p.  672.)  Type  locality  — 
Elk  River,  Sherburn  Co.,  Minnesota.  Size  large;  color  golden  yellow,  shading 
to  whitish  yellow  on  the  face;  legs  strongly  rusty  brown  or  reddish  brown. 

Vulpes  rubricosa  (BANGS).     (Science,  N.  S.,  VII,  1898,  p.  272.)     Type  locality  — 
•    Digby,  Nova  Scotia,  Canada.     Larger  and  darker  than  fulvus;  rostrum  and  teeth 
larger. 

Vulpes  r.  bangsi  MERRIAM.  (Proc.  Wash.  Acad.  Sci.,  II,  1900,  p.  667.)  Type  local- 
ity—  Lance  au  Loup,  Strait  of  Belle  Isle,  Labrador.  "Similar  to  fulvus,  but 
ears  smaller;  black  of  ears  and  feet  more  restricted."  (Merriam.) 

Vulpes  deletrix  BANGS.  (Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XII,  1898,  p.  36.)  Type  locality  — 
Bay  St.  George,  Newfoundland.  Color  very  pale,  light  straw  color,  varying  in 
places  to  yellow  and  buffy. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        313 


Genus  CANIS  Linnaeus. 

Canis   Linnaeus,    Syst.    Nat.,   X   ed.,    I,    1758,    p.    38.     Type    Cam's 

familiaris  Linnaeus. 

Temporal  crests  joining  and  extending  in  a  single  parietal  ridge  or 
sagittal  crest;*  frontal  sinus  present;  upper  incisors  lobed  or  notched; 
nasals  extending  to  or  back  of  maxillaries ;  jaws  elongated ;  nose  elongated 
and  tapering;  postorbital  process  of  frontal  bone  rounded,  with  end 
curving  downward;  pupil  of  eye  round. 

Dental  formula:    I.  ^,  C.  —,  Pm.  4d,  M.  —=42. 
3-3          I-l  4-4  3-3 

Canis  nubilus  SAY. 
GRAY  WOLF.     TIMBER  WOLF. 

Canis  nubilus  SAY,  Long's  Exped.  Rocky  Mts.,  I,  1823,  p.  169. 

Canis  occidentalis  KENNICOTT,  Trans.  111.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  I,  1853-54  (^SS).  p.  578 
(Cook  Co.,  Illinois).  THOMAS,  Trans.  111.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  IV,  1859-60  (1861), 
p.  654  (Illinois).  BANGS,  Amer.  Nat.,  XXXII,  1898,  p.  505.  ADAMS,  Rept. 
State  Board  Geol.  Surv.  Mich.,  1905  (1906),  p.  130  (Michigan).  HAHN,  Ann. 
Rept.  Dept.  Geol.  &  Nat.  Resources  Ind.,  1908  (1909),  p.  557  (Indiana).  SETON, 
Life  Histories  of  Northern  Animals,  II,  1909,  p.  749.  WOOD.  Bull.  111.  State 
Lab.  Nat.  Hist.,  VIII,  1910,  p.  570  (Illinois). 

Lupus  occidentalis  LAPHAM,  Trans.  Wis.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  II,  1852  (1853),  p.  339 
(Wisconsin). 

Canis  occidentalis  var.  griseo-albus  MILES,  Rept.  Geol.  Surv.  Mich.,  I,  1860  (1861), 
p.  220  (Michigan). 

Canis  lupus  STRONG,  Geol.  Wis.,  Surv.  1873-79,  I,  1883,  p.  436  (Wisconsin).  EVER- 
MANN  &  BUTLER,  Proc.  Ind.  Acad.  Sci.,  1893  (1894),  p.  135  (Indiana). 

Canis  lupus  nubilus  RHOADS,  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  1896  (1897),  p.  200  (Ten- 
nessee). 

Canis  nubilis  McATEE,  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XX,  1907,  p.  6  (Indiana). 

Canis  griseus  JACKSON,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  VI,  1908,  p.  27  (Wisconsin). 

Type  locality  —  Vicinity  of  Council  Bluffs,  Iowa. 

Distribution  —  Not  definitely  determined. 

Description  —  Adult:  Size  large;  general  color  variable;  the  majority 
of  specimens  grayish  or  brownish  gray  or  brownish  white,  with 
the  middle  portion  of  back  to  base  of  tail  largely  black;  much  pale 
rufous  brown  on  legs  and  about  the  head  and  ears;  terminal  portion 
of  tail  tinged  with  pale  rufous,  the  hairs  at  the  tip  mixed  black  and 
white;  diameter  of  upper  canine  teeth  at  base  (in  adult)  .50  inch  or 
more;  nose  pad  (in  adult)  more  than  1.25  inch  wide. 

Measurements  —  Total  length,  about  56.50  to  63  in.  (1400  to  1600  mm.) ; 
tail  vertebrae,  15  to  16  in.  (380  to  416  mm.);  hind  foot,  about  10  in. 
(254  mm.).     (Specimens  from  Michigan.) 
*  For  illustration  see  p.  298. 


314    IfiELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        315 

Remarks  —  Young  pups  of  this  species  have  the  muzzle  blackish  at 
birth,  fading  in  a  few  weeks  to  grayish;  head  grayish,  in  decided 
contrast  to  the  black  of  the  back,  nose  and  ears;  ears  black  at  tip, 
fading  to  grayish  in  a  few  weeks;  tail  black,  fading  to  gray,  the 
tip  black. 

There  is  much  variation  in  the  color  of  Wolves  from  the  same 
locality,*  and  from  lack  of  specimens  from  large  areas  for  comparison 
the  distribution  of  the  various  supposed  species  cannot  be  definitely 
determined  at  the  present  time.  It  is  by  no  means  improbable  that  if 
a  sufficiently  large  series  could  be  assembled,  those  which  occur  in  the 
United  States  might  ultimately  be  considered  geographical  races  of 
one  species,  i.  e.,  Canis  mexicanus  Linn.  From  the  material  examined 
I  am  unable  to  decide  whether  or  not  the  Wolf  which  occurs  in  Wiscon- 
sin is  separable  from  the  Nebraska  form.  The  skulls  which  I  have  seen 
from  Nebraska  are  somewhat  larger  than  any  from  Wisconsin  or  Michi- 
gan and  have  the  postorbital  processes  of  the  frontal  bone  longer  and 
less  abruptly  decurved,  and  the  zygomatic  breadth  is  relatively  and 
actually  greater.  On  the  other  hand  a  specimen  from  Kansas  agrees 
very  well  with  those  from  Wisconsin  and  it  is  not  unlikely  these  cranial 
differences  may  be  due  to  age  or  sex.  For  the  present  at  least  it  would 
seem  best  to  consider  the  form  which  occurs  within  our  limits  to  be 
Canis  nubilus. 

CRANIAL   MEASUREMENTS. 

(In  millimeters) 


Langlade 
Co.,  Wis. 
Field  Mus. 
No.  930. 

Champion 
Marquette 
Co.,  Mich 
Field  Mus. 
No.  916. 

IT    sD!\5it        River. 

\J  .    O.  ->dl.     IT     o     XT..*. 

it   _           U.  o.  r»at. 
Mus.             T,* 

N°-  »»'•    No  "568. 

Fort 
Kearney 
Nebraska. 
U.  S.  Nat. 
Mus. 
No.  1314. 

Fort 
Kearney 
Nebraska. 
U.  S.  Nat. 
Mus. 
No.  884. 

Greatest  length  of  skull  

250 

254 

245             254 

240 

240 

Basal  length.  .  .  . 

221 

222 

2  1O              221 

214. 

217 

Basilar  length  of  Hensel  .... 

218 

215 

222              2l8 

*T" 
205 

^  *  i 
2IO 

Palatilar  length  

1  2O 

115 

Il8              114 

111 

I2O 

Zvgomatic  breadth  

127 

I2Q 

A    »  W                                 *  Atf. 

122              137 

*  *o 

117 

Mastoid  breadth  

*       / 

81 

7 
78 

77  c           80 

78 

*o/ 

80 

Greatest   breadth    of     brain 

/  V 

/  /  o 

/  •* 

case  .,  

68 

68 

62             66 

66 

65 

Narrowest    breadth    of 

^o 

rostrum  

45 

42 

45              45 

46 

45 

Interorbital  breadth  

T 
40 

4.7                C2 

T** 

46 

46 

Breadth    between    ends    of 

^y 

T^*J                           \J 

^.v 

V 

postorbital  processes  

57 

68 

C7                     7Q 

60.4 

65 

Length   of   crown   of   upper 

MW 

OO                           I  M 

W.&f 

vo 

carnassial  .  . 

25 

21 

25                 21 

24 

2< 

*  While  the  majority  of  Florida  Wolves  (C.  ater)  were  probably  black,  according 
to  statements  of  my  Indian  friends,  gray  and  brownish  individuals  were  not  un- 
cc  mmon.  Robert  Osceola  killed  a  black  Wolf  with  two  black  pups  in  the  Big  Cypress, 
near  the  Everglades  and  another  black  Wolf  with  three  pups,  two  of  which  were 
gray  and  one  black,  in  the  same  locality. 


316     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

The  Gray  Wolf,  often  called  Timber  Wolf,  is  common  in  northern 
Wisconsin  and  is  claimed  to  be  occasionally  found  in  other  parts  of  the 
state;  but  unless  the  animal  is  killed  and  examined  by  an  expert,  its 
resemblance  to  the  Prairie  Wolf,  or  Coyote,  would  cause  us  to  regard 
records  of  its  occurrence  in  the  more  settled -districts  of  southern  Wis- 
consin and  Illinois  with  suspicion.  While  it  is  possible  that  straggling 
individuals  have  of  late  years  been  taken  in  Illinois,  all  efforts  to  secure 
a  specimen  have  failed,  and  on  several  occasions  the  supposed  "Timber 
Wolves"  have  proved  upon  examination  to  be  Prairie  Wolves  (C. 
latrans).  From  time  to  time  notices  regarding  the  killing  of  so-called 
"Gray  Wolves"  have  appeared  in  the  newspapers  in  different  parts  of 
the  state.  As  an  example  I  quote  the  following  from  the  St.  Louis 
Republican,  January  9,  1911: 

"Two  of  the  largest  gray  wolves  ever  killed  in  Bureau  County  [Illi- 
nois] were  shot  this  week  by  David  Hiltabrand,  a  farmer  living  near 
Tiskilwa.  He  was  allowed  the  bounty  of  $ 1 2  from  the  County  Treasury. 

"The  animals  were  captured  after  an  exciting  chase  through  the 
timber.  One  wolf  weighed  thirty-five  pounds  and  the  other  thirty- 
three.  The  carcasses  were  viewed  with  considerable  curiosity  as  wolves 
have  been  scarce  in  that  vicinity  for  many  years." 

The  weight  given  for  these  animals  would  indicate  that  they  were 
Prairie  Wolves  (C.  latrans). 

Judge  R.  Magoon  Barnes  of  Lacon,  Marshall  Co.,  Illinois,  informs 
me  that  a  large  Wolf  was  killed  a  few  miles  from  Lacon  in  1907;  four  or 
five  were  reported  in  1908,  and  an  equal  number  in  1909-10,  He  did 
not  see  the  specimens. 

Mr.  E.  J.  Chansler  of  Bicknell,  Indiana,  writes,  "There  was  a  large, 
wild  Timber  Wolf  killed  one  and  one  half  miles  south  of  Vincennes  on 
the  Illinois  side  of  the  River  about  the  year  1883.  It  had  been  killing 
cattle  or  hogs  and  the  parties  watched  for  it  one  night  and  shot  it.  It 
was  mounted  and  kept  by  Mr.  Ed.  Bravagle  of  Main  St.,  Vincennes, 
Indiana." 

Wood  says,  "During  the  years  1883  to  1905  inclusive,  bounties 
were  paid  on  159  wolves*  killed  in  Champaign  County."  (1.  c.,  p.  570). 

Kennicott  (1854)  gives  it  as  formerly  common  in  Cook  County  and, 
states  it  was  "found  throughout  the  state."  (7.  c.,  p.  578.)  Hahn 
gives  several  supposed  records  for  Indiana  (I.  c.,  pp.  558-559);  and 
McAtee  states  (apparently  on  hearsay  evidence)  that  a  female  and  a 
litter  of  young  were  taken  in  Brown  Co.,  Indiana,  in  1902  (I.  c.,  p.  6). 

I  am  indebted  to  Mr.  Otto  Widmann  of  St.  Louis  for  a  dozen  or  more 

*  We  may  assume  that  the  majority,  if  not  all  of  these  animals,  were  Prairie 
Wolves  (C.  latrans). 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        317 

newspaper  clippings  of  a  similar  character  recording  the  killing  of 
"Wolves"  in  northern  Missouri  and  Illinois.  Wolves  were  claimed  to 
have  been  killed  in  Nauvoo,  Sterling  and  Whiteside  counties,  but  as 
no  weights  or  measurements  were  given,  we  are  left  in  doubt  as  to  the 
species. 

I  am  informed  by  Mr.  James  M.  Lacey  of  Bath,  Illinois,  that  some 
twelve  years  ago  he  killed  a  "big  Gray  Wolf"  near  Moscow  Lake,  in 
that  locality  which  he  describes  as  being  "as  tall  as  a  large  pointer  dog. " 
Weight  is  given  to  this  record  from  the  fact  that  Mr.  Lacey  is  an  ex- 
perienced hunter  and  is  familiar  with  Prairie  Wolves  which  were  not 
uncommon  in  that  locality. 

Of  its  occurrence  in  considerable  numbers  in  northern  Wisconsin, 
however,  there  is  no  question,  and  records  are  too  numerous  to  be 
enumerated  in  detail.  I  have  examined  specimens  or  skulls  of  animals 
of  this  species  taken  in  Ashland,  Oneida  and  Langlade  counties.  Jack- 
son records  it  also  from  Forest  and  Bayfield  counties,  and  I  have  reliable 
information  of  its  occurrence  in  Wisconsin  at  least  as  far  south  as 
Buffalo  County.  From  a  large  number  of  letters  received  from  reliable 
persons  regarding  these  animals,  I  quote  the  following  excerpts: 

Mr.  John  Weber  of  Forestville,  Door  Co.,  informs  me  he  killed  14 
Gray  Wolves  in  the  winter  of  1907. 

Mr.  N.  L.  Kinney  of  Eagle  River,  Vilas  Co.,  under  date  of  February 
9,  1910,  writes:  "We  have  a  large  pack  of  Timber  Wolves  here  this  win- 
ter that  are  making  great  havoc  among  the  Deer,  but  so  far  only  two 
have  been  killed."  In  a  previous  letter  he  informed  me  that  a  Gray 
Wolf  weighing  98  pounds  was  killed  in  January,  1906,  and  a  larger  one, 
which  was  not  weighed,  in  January,  1907. 

Mr.  J.  Hobbs  of  Medford,  Taylor  County,  states  that  Gray  Wolves 
are  not  uncommon  in  that  county. 

Several  correspondents  report  them  common  in  Iron,  Bayfield, 
Douglas  and  Burnett  counties. 

Mr.  F.  E.  Munroe,  county  clerk  at  Ladysmith,  Rusk  Co.,  informs 
me  that  Gray  Wolves  are  not  uncommon  in  the  county  and  that  on 
February  20,  1907,  he  paid  bounty  on  two  killed  that  week. 

Gray  Wolves,  or  Timber  Wolves,  as  they  are  often  called,  are  wan- 
dering animals,  which  frequent  alike  both  prairie  and  timbered  country 
wherever  they  can  find  game.  In  the  old  days  in  the  central  plain  re- 
gion of  the  United  States,  Wolves  were  very  numerous  and  preyed  largely 
upon  Buffalo,  but  since  the  extermination  of  that  species  their  descend- 
ents  have  turned  their  attention  to  Cattle  and  Sheep.  In  wooded 
sections  they  kill  many  Deer,  as  well  as  smaller  animals,  such  as  Hares 
and  Foxes. 


318     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — -  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 

Wolves  rarely  lie  in  wait  for  their  prey,  but  usually  hunt  in  packs, 
at  least  in  the  winter,  and  run  down  their  game,  following  the  trail 
like  hounds.  In  the  vicinity  of  a  ranch,  where  Sheep  or  Cattle  can  be 
had,  they  have  learned  by  experience  that  little  effort  is  required  to 
secure  food  and  in  such  cases  often  hunt  alone  or  in  pairs,  doing  their 
work  in  a  stealthy  manner.  But  when  hunting  a  Deer  they  take  the 
trail  openly,  trusting  to  their  power  of  endurance  to  pursue  the  animal 
until  it  becomes  exhausted.  A  hunt  of  this  character  is  described  by 
Mr.  Ernest  Thompson  Seton  who  says,*  "An  instance  in  point  was 
related  to  me  by  Gordon  M.  Wright,  of  Carberry,  Man.  During  the 
winter  of  1865  he  was  logging  at  Sturgeon  Lake,  Ont.  One  Sunday  he 
and  some  companions  strolled  out  on  the  ice  of  the  lake  to  look  at  the 
logs  there.  They  heard  the  hunting  cry  of  Wolves,  then  a  Deer  (a 
female)  darted  from  the  woods  to  the  open  ice.  Her  sides  were  heaving, 
her  tongue  out,  and  her  legs  cut 'with  the  slight  crust  on  the  snow. 
Evidently  she  was  hard  pressed.  She  was  coming  towards  them  but 
one  of  the  men  gave  a  shout  which  caused  her  to  sheer  off.  A  minute 
later  six  Timber- wolves  appeared  galloping  on  her  trail,  heads  low,  tails 
horizontal,  and  howling  continuously.  They  were  uttering  their  hunt- 
ing cry,  but  as  soon  as  they  saw  the  Deer  they  broke  into  a  louder, 
different  note,  left  the  trail,  and  made  straight  for  her.  Five  of  the 
Wolves  were  abreast  and  one  that  seemed  much  darker  was  behind. 
Within  half  a  mile  they  overtook  her  and  pulled  her  down,  all  seemed  to 
seize  her  at  once.  For  a  few  minutes  she  bleated  like  a  lamb  in  distress ; 
after  that  the  only  sound  was  the  snarling  and  crunching  of  the  Wolves 
as  they  feasted.  Within  fifteen  minutes  nothing  was  left  of  the  Deer 
but  hair  and  some  of  the  larger  bones,  and  the  Wolves  fighting  among 
themselves  for  even  these.  Then  they  scattered,  each  going  a  quarter 
of  a  mile  or  so,  no  two  in  the  same  direction,  and  those  that  remained 
in  view  curled  up  there  on  the  open  lake  to  sleep.  This  happened  about 
ten  o'clock  in  the  morning  within  three  hundred  yards  of  several  wit- 
nesses." 

Gray  Wolves  make  their  dens  in  caves,  hollow  logs,  or  burrows  in 
the  ground.  The  young  are  born  in  April  and  usually  number  from 
6  to'  8,  although  as  many  as  13  have  been  found  in  a  litter. 

Mr.  Vernon  Bailey  states  that  in  1907  litters  of  Wolf  pups  were  found 
in  the  Michigan  peninsular  in  Marquette  and  Dickinson  counties,  and 
that  during  the  year  34  Wolves  were  killed  in  Ontonagan  County  and 
54  in  Luce  County. f  A  full  grown  Gray  Wolf  in  northern  Wisconsin 
or  Michigan  will  weigh  from  70  to  100  pounds,  and  Seton  records  one 

*  Life  Histories  of  Northern  Animals,  II,  1909,  pp.  755-756. 
t  U.  S.  Dept.  Agr.,  Bureau  Biol.  Surv.,  Circular,  No.  63,  1908. 


FEB.,  1912.    MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        319 

weighing  150  pounds.     (/.  c.,  p.  750.)     The  so-called  "Gray  Wolves" 
reported  killed,  which  weigh  less  than  50  pounds,  are  probably  Coyotes. 
The  following  directions  for  trapping  and  poisoning  Wolves  and 
Coyotes  are  given  by  Mr.  Vernon  Bailey  (/.  c.,  pp.  8-9-10): 


TRAPPING. 

"For  wolves  the  best  No.  4  double-spring  trap  with  heavy  welded 
or  special  wolf  chain  should  be  used.  If  the  trap  is  to  be  fastened  to  a 
stationary  object,  the  chain  should  have  a  swivel  at  each  end.  If  to  a 
drag,  one  swivel  next  the  trap  is  enough.  Always  use  a  drag  if  possible. 
The  best  is  a  stone  of  30  or  40  pounds  weight,  to  which  the  chain  is 
securely  wired.  A  long  oval  stone  is  best.  A  piece  of  telegraph  wire 
or  smooth  fence  wire  5  or  6  feet  long  should  be  passed  around  one  end 
of  the  stone;  then  doubled  through  the  trap  ring,  with  a  twist  to  hold 
the  ring  in  the  middle ;  then  around  the  other  end  of  the  stone  and  back 
on  the  opposite  side  to  connect  with  the  first  loop.  If  properly  fastened, 
a  jerk  on  the  trap  tends  to  draw  together  and  tighten  the  loops,  and  the 
spring  of  the  connecting  wire  prevents  a  sudden  jar  that  might  break 
trap  or  chain.  If  an  oval  stone  is  not  at  hand,  a  triangular  or  square 
stone  may  be  used  by  passing  the  wire  over  the  three  or  four  sides  and 
securely  connecting  it  above  and  below. 

"If  no  stones  are  to  be  had  and  it  is  necessary  to  stake  the  traps, 
twisted  iron  stakes  that  can  be  driven  below  the  surface  of  the  ground 
should  be  used.  They  should  be  of  good  iron  straps,  at  least  18  inches 
long,  three-fourths  of  an  inch  wide,  and  three-sixteenths  of  an  inch 
thick,  turned  over  at  the  top  into  a  P-shaped  loop  to  connect  with  the 
ring  of  the  trap  chain. 

"When  possible,  place  the  trap  between  two  tufts  of  grass  or  weeds, 
so  it  can  readily  be  approached  from  one  side  only.  Bury  the  stone, 
chain,  and  trap  out  of  sight,  with  the  trap  nearest  the  runway  where 
the  wolves  follow  a  trail  or  road,  cross  a  narrow  pass,  or  visit  a  carcass. 
The  trap  should  be  flush  with  the  surface  of  the  ground  and  the  jaws  and 
pan  covered  with  a  piece  of  paper  to  keep  the  earth  from  clogging  under 
the  pan.  Fine  earth  should  be  then  sprinkled  over  the  paper  until 
all  traces  of  trap  and  paper  are  concealed.  The  surface  of  the  ground 
and  surroundings  should  appear  as  nearly  as  possible  undisturbed.  The 
dust  may  be  given  a  natural  appearance  by  sprinkling  it  with  water. 
Touching  the  ground  or  other  objects  with  the  hands,  spitting  near 
the  trap,  or  in  any  way  leaving  a  trace  of  human  odors  near  by  should 
be  avoided.-  Old,  well-scented  gloves  should  be  worn,  and  a  little  of 
the  scent  used  for  the  traps  should  be  rubbed  on  the  shoe  soles.  A 


320     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 

piece  of  old  cowhide  may  be  used  to  stand  on  and  to  pile  the  loose  earth 
on  while  burying  the  drag  and  trap. 

"For  coyotes  use  the  best  No.  3  double  spring-trap,  unless  in  a  wolf 
country,  where  it  is  better  to  use  a  trap  strong  enough  to  hold  a  wolf. 
In  setting  the  trap  use  the  same  method  and  bait  as  for  wolves,  but  the 
traps  may  be  staked  or  fastened  to  a  stationary  object  with  more  safety. 


USE   OF   SCENTS. 

"Success  in  trapping  depends  largely  on  the  use  of  a  scent  that  will 
attract  wolves  and  coyotes  to  the  traps  and  keep  them  tramping  and 
pawing  there  until  caught.  Meat  bait  alone  is  of  little  use,  and  often, 
indeed,  scares  the  animals  away.  Of  the  many  scents  and  combinations 
tested  the  fetid  bait  has  proved  most  successful. 

"Fetid  bait.  Place  half  a  pound  of  raw  beef  or  venison  in  a  wide- 
mouthed  bottle  and  let  it  stand  in  a  warm  place  (but  not  in  the  sun)  for 
two  to  six  weeks,  or  until  it  is  thoroughly  decayed  and  the  odor  has 
become  as  offensive  as  possible.  When  decomposition  has  reached  the 
proper  stage,  add  a  quart  of  sperm  oil  or  any  liquid  animal  oil.  Lard 
oil  may  be  used,  but  prairie-dog  oil  is  better.  Then  add  i  ounce  of 
pulverized  asafetida  and  one  ounce  of  tincture  of  Siberian  musk  or 
Tonquin  musk.  If  this  can  not  be  procured,  use  in  its  place  i  ounce  of 
dry,  pulverized  castoreum  (beaver  castor)  or  i  ounce  of  the  common 
musk  sold  for  perfumery.  Mix  well  and  bottle  securely  until  used. 

"After  setting  the  trap,  apply  the  scent  with  a  stick  or  straw  or 
by  pouring  from  the  bottle  to  the  grass,  weeds,  or  ground  on  the  side 
of  the  trap  opposite  that  from  which  the  wolf  would  naturally  approach. 
Never  put  scent  on  the  trap,  as  the  first  impulse  of  the  wolf  after  snuffing 
the  scent  is  to  roll  on  it. 

"This  bait  is  very  attractive  also  to  cattle  and  horses,  which  are 
sure  to  tramp  over  and  paw  out  the  traps,  if  set  where  they  can  be 
reached. 

POISONING. 

"No  poisoning  has  yet  proven  so  effective  as  pure  sulphate  of 
strychnine,  provided  the  proper  dose  is  used.  The  most  effective  dose 
is  4  grains  for  wolves  and  2  grains  for  coyotes.  The  common  3-grain 
gelatine  capsules  sold  by  druggists  will  hold,  if  well  filled,  4  grains  of 
strychnine  and  are  better  than  the  larger  capsules.  The  regular  two- 
grain  capsules  should  be  used  for  coyotes.  The  capsules  should  be 
filled,  securely  capped,  and  every  trace  of  the  intensely  bitter  drug 
wiped  from  the  outside.  Each  capsule  should  be  inserted  in  a  piece 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        321 


of  beef  suet  the  size  of  a  walnut  and  the  cavity  securely  closed,  to  keep 
out  the  moisture.  Lean  meat  should  not  be  used,  as*  the  juice  soon 
dissolves  the  gelatine  of  the  capsule.  The  necessary  number  of  poisoned 
baits  may  be  prepared  and  carried  in  a  tin  can  or  pail.  They  should 
never  be  handled  except  with  gloved  hands  or  forceps.  The  baits  may 
be  dropped  from  horseback  along  a  scented  drag  line  made  by  dragging 
an  old  bone  or  piece  of  hide  well  saturated  with  the  fetid  scent,  or  they 
may  be  placed  around  or  partly  under  any  carcass  on  which  the  wolves 
or  coyotes  are  feeding,  or  along  trails  which  they  are  in  the  habit  of 
following.  Gelatine  capsules  quickly  dissolve  in  the  juices  of  the 
stomach ;  Strychnine  taken  on  an  empty  stomach  sometimes  kills  in  a 
very  few  minutes,  but  on  a  full  stomach  its  action  is  much  slower,  and 
the  animal  may  have  time  to  travel  a  considerable  distance." 


Map  illustrating  supposed  distribution  of  Big  Wolves  in  the  United  States,  southern  Canada  and 
northern  Mexico.     The  range  limits  of  the  various  forms  have  not  been  satisfactorily  determined. 

Canis  nubilus  SAY.  (Long's  Exped.  Rocky  Mts.,  I,  1823,  p.  169.)  Type  locality- 
Vicinity  of  Council  Bluffs,  Iowa. 

Canis  occidentalis  (RICHARDSON).  (Fauna  Bor.  Amer.  I,  1829,  pp.  60-65.)  Type 
locality  —  Northern  North  America. 

Canis  albus  (SABINE).  (Franklin's  Narrative,  Journ.  to  Polar  Sea,  1823,  p.  655.) 
Type  locality  —  Fort  Enterprise,  Mackenzie,  Canada. 

Canis  ater  (RICHARDSON).  (Fauna  Bor.  Amer.,  I,  1829,  p.  70.)  Type  locality  —  Not 
definite,  but  now  generally  restricted  to  Florida. 

Canis  mexicanus  LINN.  (Syst.  Nat.,  XII  ed.,  I,  1766,  p.  60.)  Type  locality  — 
Mexico. 

Canis  rufus  (Auo.  and  BACH.).  (Quadrupeds  of  N.  Amer.,  II,  1851,  p.  240.)  Type 
locality  —  Texas.  Smaller  and  more  reddish  in  color  than  other  members  of 
this  group.  In  size  it  is  small  for  a  "big  wolf"  and  large  for  a  Coyote. 


322     FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

Specimens  examined  from  Wisconsin  and  adjoining  states : 
Wisconsin  —  Antigo,  Langlade  Co.  (skull),  i;  (M.  P.  M.)  Ashland  Co., 

i;  Rhinelander,  Oneida  Co.,  i;  Three  Lakes,  Oneida  Co.,  i;  (S.  C.) 

Ashland  Co.  (skulls),  2  =  6. 
Michigan  —  Park  Siding,  i;  White  Deer  Lake,  near  Champion,  Mar- 

quette  Co.,  1  =  2. 

Canis  latrans  SAY. 
PRAIRIE  WOLF.     COYOTE. 

Canis  latrans  SAY,  Long's  Exped.  Rocky  Mts.,  I,  1823,  p.  168.  KENNICOTT,  Trans. 
111.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  I,  1853-54  (1855),  p.  578  (Cook  Co.,  Illinois).  THOMAS, 
Trans.  111.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  IV,  '1859-60  (1861),  p.  654  (Illinois).  MILES,  Rept. 
Geol.  Surv.  Mich.,  1860  (1861),  p.  220  (Michigan).  ALLEN,  Proc.  Bost.  Soc. 
Nat.  Hist.,  XIII,  1869  (1871),  p.  181  (Iowa).  STRONG,  Geol.  Wis.,  Surv. 
1873-79, 1,  1883,  p.  436  (Wisconsin).  HERRICK,  Geol.  &  Nat.  Hist.  Surv.  Minn., 
Bull.  No.  7,  1892,  p.  80  (Minnesota).  BUTLER,  Proc.  Ind.  Acad.  Sci.,  1894 
(1895),  p.  85  (Indiana).  MERRIAM,  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XI,  1897,  p.  23. 
JACKSON,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  VI,  1908,  p.  27  (Wisconsin).  HOLLISTER, 
Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  VI,  1908,  p.  141  (Wisconsin).  HAHN,  Ann.  Rept. 
Dept.  Geol.  &  Nat.  Resources  Ind.,  1908  (1909),  p.  561  (Indiana).  SETON, 
Life  Histories  of  Northern  Animals,  II,  1909,  p.  789.  HOWELL,  Proc.  Biol. 
Soc.  Wash.,  XXIII,  1910,  p.  32  (Illinois).  WOOD,  Bull.  111.  State  Lab.  Nat. 
Hist.,  VIII,  1910,  p.  571  (Illinois). 

Lupus  latrans  LAPHAM,  Trans.  Wis.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  II,  1852  (1853),  p.  339  (Wis- 
consin). 

Type  locality  —  Vicinity  of  Council  Bluffs,  Pottawattamie  County, 
Iowa. 

Distribution  —  Ranges  from  Illinois,  northwestern  Indiana  and  northern 
Missouri  north  to  Lake  Superior  and  in  the  Northwest  at  least  to 
the  base  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  in  Alberta,  and  probably  much 
farther  west;  limits  of  its  range  not  definitely  known. 

Description  —  Adult:  Resembles  the  Gray  Wolf,  Canis  nubilus,  but  is 
decidedly  smaller;  general  color  grayish  tawny,  back  with  the  hairs 
tipped  with  black;  top  of  head  from  front  of  eyes  to  ears  grizzled 
gray;  ears  fulvous  brown,  with  a  few  black  hairs;  under  parts  whitish, 
with  more  or  less  white-tipped  hairs  on  throat;  outer  side  of  hind 
legs  and  feet  fulvous  brown.  Color  more  or  less  variable,  but  size 
will  usually  distinguish  it  from  C.  occidentalis,  which  is  the  only 
species  with  which  it  might  be  confounded ;  diameter  of  upper  canine 
teeth  at  base  (in  adult)  less  than  .50  inch;  width  of  nose  pad  (in 
adult)  less  than  1.25  in. 

Young  pups  have  the  muzzle  tawny,  the  head  yellowish  gray, 
back  of  ears  dark  brown  soon  fading  to  yellowish  brown;  tail  black, 
soon  changing  to  grayish,  with  the  tip  black. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  or  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        323 


Measurements  —  Total  length,  about  44  to  49.50  in.  (i  1 10  to  1 250  mm.) ; 
tail  vertebrae,  n  to  14.50  in.  (280  to  370  mm.);  hind  foot,  about 
7.50  in.  (190  mm.). 

CRANIAL   MEASUREMENTS.* 

Linn  County, 

Iowa.  - 
Coll.  Coe  College 

Museum. 
Cedar  Rapids. 

Greatest  length  of  skull 174  mm. 

Basal  length 160  " 

Basilar  length  of  Hensel 153  " 

Palatilar  length 81  " 

Zygomatic  breadth 86  " 

Mastoid  breadth 55 

Breadth  of  brain  case 54  " 

Narrowest  breadth  of  rostrum 30  " 

Interorbital  breadth 26  " 

Breadth  between  ends  of    postorbital 

processes 36  " 

Length  of  crown  of  upper  carnassial ....  18  " 


Linn  County, 
Iowa. 
Coll.  Coe  College 
Museum. 
Cedar  Rapids. 

Marinette  Co. 
Wisconsin. 
Field  Museum 
Collection. 

165  mm. 

174  mm. 

152      " 

153      " 

148      " 

150 

79     " 

82      " 

80     " 

88     " 

52     " 

56     " 

53 

54     " 

27 

26     " 

25     " 

27     " 

35 
18 


40 
19 


The  sexes  of  the  above  skulls  are  unfortunately  unknown,  although 
they  are  probably  females.  They  are,  however,  decidedly  smaller 
than  two  skulls  from  Minnesota  supposed  to  belong  to  this  species. 

The  range  of  the  Prairie  Wolf  or  Coyote  formerly  included  the  greater 
portion  of  Illinois  and  Wisconsin  and  it  is  still  to  be  found  in  more  or 
less  numbers  in  many  sparsely  settled  localities  in  both  states.f  There 
is  a  specimen  in  the  Northwestern  University  collection  at  Evanston, 
Illinois,  taken  near  Geneva,  Kane  Co.,  Illinois.  Mr.  T.  D.  Shipton  of 
Hanover  informs  me  that  they  are  of  regular  occurrence  in  parts  of  Jo 
Daviess  Co.,  but  not  plentiful.  Mr.  W.  L.  Weaver  of  Morrison,  White- 
side  Co.,  reports  them  as  being  found  to  a  limited  extent  in  that  locality. 
Mr.  W.  E.  Nixon,  county  clerk,  Toulon,  111.,  informs  me  they  are  occa- 
sionally killed  in  Stark  County.  Mr.  A.  H.  Howell  states  that  several 
were  killed  two  or  three  years  ago  near  Kansas,  Edgar  Co.  Kennicott, 
in  his  list  published  in  1854,  states  that  it  was  abundant  in  Cook  County 
within  ten  years  (/.  c.,  p.  578). 

In  Wisconsin  it  is  common  in  some  localities.  Hollister  states  that 
there  are  three  skulls  in  the  Biological  Survey  collection  from  Eagle 
River,  Vilas  Co.,  collected  in  1907,  and  a  skin  and  skull  from  Delavan 
taken  in  1898.  He  is  of  the  opinion  that  it  is  increasing  in  numbers  in 
southern  Wisconsin,  notably  in  Wai  worth  County  where  several  litters 

*  Fcr  definition  of  terms  see  Glossary,  p.  489. 

t  It  is  probable  that  nearly  all  the  so-called  "  Gray  Wolves  "  reported  by  various 
newspapers  as  having  been  killed,  from  time  to  time,  in  Illinois  are  this  species. 


324    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        325 

of  young  are  taken  each  year  (I.  c.,  1908,  p.  141).  I  have  examined 
specimens  from  Sauk  and  Marinette  counties,  and  Jackson  says  it  occurs 
in  nearly  all  parts  of  southern  Wisconsin,  stating  he  has  seen  specimens 
from  Green  County  and  that  Mr.  Clark  reports  it  from  Dunn  County 
(/.  c.,  p.  27);  and  I  have  been  informed  by  reliable  hunters  and  others 
that  it  is  not  uncommon  in  Douglas,  Bayfield  and  Ashland  counties, 
but  I  have  seen  no  specimens  from  these  localities. 


Map  illustrating  the  supposed  distribution  of  Prairie  Wolves  or  Coyotes  in  eastern  United  States. 

Canis  latrans  SAY.  Type  locality  —  Vicinity  of  Council  Bluffs,  Iowa.     Description 

as  previously  given. 
Canis  nebracensis  MERRIAM.  (Science,  N.  Sen,  VIII,  1898,  p.  782.)      Type  locality 

—  Johnstown,  Brown  Co.,  Nebraska.     Similar  to  latrans  but  paler;  back  of  ears 

buff  instead  of  fulvous. 
Canis  n.  texensis  BAILEY.  (N.  Amer.  Fauna,  No.  25,  1905,  p.  175.)     Type  locality  — 

45  miles  southwest  of  Corpus  Christi,  Texas.     Darker  and  with  lighter  dentition 

than  nebracensis;  smaller  and  more  fulvous  than  latrans. 
Canis  frustr or  WOODHOUSE.  (Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Scien.  Phila.,  1851,  p.  147.)     Type 

locality  —  Fort  Gibson,  junction  of  the  Neosho  and  Arkansas  rivers,  Indian 

Territory.      Muzzle  cinnamon   rufous;    carnassials  and   premolars   decidedly 

smaller  than  in  latrans. 


326    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

The  Prairie  Wolf,  or  Coyote,  resembles  the  Timber  Wolf,  but  is 
smaller;  and  while  they  occasionally  kill  Calves,  Colts  and  Sheep  and 
even  full-grown  Deer,  the  greater  portion  of  their  food  consists  of  smaller 
animals,  such  as  Mice,  Rabbits,  frogs,  birds  and  eggs,  etc.,  as  well  as 
dead  fish  and  carrion  of  any  kind. 

Unlike  the  Timber  Wolf*  the  Coyote  habitually  barks,  and  in 
localities  where  they  are  common  their  dog-like  barking  is  a  familiar 
sound  about  the  camp.  They  howl  mostly  at  night,  but  they  occasion- 
ally do  so  on  cloudy  days  or  before  a  storm.  They  breed  from  early  in 
April  until  the  middle  of  May  (Bailey  says  April  i  to  May  15,  in  western 
United  States)  and  the  number  of  pups  born  in  a  litter  varies  from  4  to 
9,  generally  5  or  6.  The  den  is  usually  a  hole  in  the  ground,  either  dug 
by  themselves  or  a  burrow  of  some  other  animal  which  they  enlarge, 
although  occasionally  a  natural  cave  is  used,  or  in  a  wooded  country 
the  base  of  a  hollow  tree.  The  pups  when  taken  young  are  easily  tamed 
and  make  interesting  pets. 

Specimens  examined  from  Illinois,  Wisconsin  and  adjoining  states: 
Wisconsin  —  Pembine,  Marinette  Co.  (skull),  i;  (M.  P.  M.)  Prairie  du 

Sac,  Sauk  Co.,  1  =  2. 

Minnesota  —  Mankato,  i;  (B.  S.)  Elk  River,  1  =  2. 
Illinois  —  Geneva,  Kane  Co.,  i.     (Northwestern  University  collection.) 
Iowa — Linn  Co.  (skulls),  2  (Coe  College  collection,  Cedar  Rapids.) 

*  It  is  claimed  that  Timber  Wolves  bark  at  times.  See  Seton,  Life  Histories 
of  Northern  Animals,  II,  1909,  p.  814. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        327 


Family  MUSTELID^.     Otters,  Minks,  Wea- 
sels, Skunks,  Badgers,  etc. 

The  Mustelida  comprise  a  rather  large  family  which  is  widely  dis- 
tributed, representatives  being  found  throughout  the  world  except  in 
the  Australian  region  and  Madagascar.  The  family  is  divided  into 
several  well  marked  subfamilies  which,  while  osteologically  closely 
related,  differ  widely  in  appearance  and  habits.  All  North  American 
Mustelidas  are  now  generally  considered  to  belong  to  three  subfamilies: 
Lutrince,  the  Otters;  Melina,  the  Skunks  and  Badgers;  and  Mustelina 
which  includes  the  Minks,  Weasels,  Marten,  Fisher  and  Wolverine. 
All  are  fur-bearing  animals  having  a  commercial  value,  the  most  highly 
prized  being  the  Sea  Otter,  Latax  lutris  (a  species  very  different  from 
the  semi-aquatic  Otter  which  occurs  within  our  limits) .  This  splendid 
animal  is  confined  to  the  north  Pacific  Ocean  but  is  fast  disappearing. 
Its  rarity  may  be  judged  by  the  fact  that  notwithstanding  the  great 
value  of  its  fur,  a  single  fine  skin  being  valued  at  from  1000  to  2000 
dollars,  during  the  year  1909  only  37  skins  are  known  to  have  been 
secured  by  fur  dealers. 

The  members  of  this  family  possess  anal  glands,  the  secretions  of 
which  have  a  noxious  odor.  This  character  reaches  a  high  develop- 
ment in  the  Skunks,  which  are  able  to  eject  the  fetid  fluid  to  a  distance 
of  ten  or  fifteen  feet.  These  odoriferous  glands  are  more  or  less  modified 
in  different  genera.  In  the  Weasels,  Wolverine  and  American  Badgers, 
for  example,  the  secretion  is  noxious,  but  can  not  be  forcibly  ejected, 
being  allowed  to  escape  from  the  glands  when  the  animal  is  enraged  or 
excited.  In  the  various  subfamilies  there  is  a  noticable  difference  in  the 
character  of  the  feet  and  claws  but  all  members  of  the  family  have 
five  toes  on  both  fore  and  hind  feet. 

With  rare  exceptions  all  species  of  Mustelida  have  but  a  single  molar 
in  the  upper  jaw  and  occasionally  only  one  in  the  lower.  The  audital 
bullas  are  depressed  and  but  slightly  inflated ;  alisphenoid  canal  absent ; 
oss  penis  present  and  large;  caecum  absent;  placenta  zonary  and 
deciduate.  Except  in  the  Otters  the  kidneys  are  of  simple  structure. 

In  the  Skunks  the  secretion  is  an  acid  liquid  golden  yellow  in 
color,  having  an  exceedingly  strong,  sickening  odor.  Clothing,  which 
has  been  tainted  by  it,  gives  evidence  of  the  fact  for  a  surprising 
length  of  time,  especially  in  hot  weather  or  when  left  near  a  fire. 
The  fluid  is  extremely  irritating  to  the  eye,  and  cases  have  been  re- 


328    FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

ported  where  the  sight  of  both  dogs  and  men  have  been  severely 
injured  by  it  and  in  some  cases  destroyed.  Permanent  blindness  is, 
however,  the  exception,  and  in  most  cases  with  proper  treatment  the 
inflamation  soon  subsides. 


KEY  TO  THE  SUBFAMILIES  AND  GENERA  OF  MUSTELID^. 


Subfamily  LUTRIN^.      Otters. 


Otter. 


General  color  rich  brown;  total  length  about  42  inches;  tail  about  15  inches;  toes 
webbed;     cheek  teeth  (molars  and  premolars)  5  on  each  side  of  both  jaws; 


Pm.4l4,M  .1=1. 
3-3         2-2 


Genus  LUTRA,  p.  330. 


Subfamily  MELIIsME.      Skunks  and  Badgers. 


Skunk. 

Color  black  and  white, 
back  with  two  white 
stripes;  length  usually  22 
to  25  inches;  tail  7  to  9 
inches. 
GenusMEPHITIS,p.337. 


Spotted  Skunk. 

Color  black  and  white, 
back  with  four  broken 
white  stripes ;  length 
usually  1 8  to  21  inches. 
Genus  SPILOGALE,  p. 
346. 


Badger. 

Color  grizzly  gray  with 
some  blackish  brown  and 
white  markings;  length 
usually  26  to  29  inches; 
tail  about  5  inches. 
Genus  TAXIDEA,  p.  348. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        329 


Subfamily  MUSTELINE.    Wolverine,  Martens,  Fisher, 
Minks  and  Weasels. 


Wolverine. 

General  color  brown  with  more  or 
less  yellowish  white  marking;  total 
length  usually  28  to  33  inches;  tail 
about  8  inches. 

Genus  GULO,  p.  352. 


Fisher. 

General  color  dark  brown;  legs, 
lower  back  and  belly  blackish;  cheek 
teeth  5  above  and  6  below  on  each  side 
of  jaw;  total  length  about  34  inches. 

Genus  MUSTELA,  p.  381. 


Marten. 

General  color  yellowish 
brown  shading  to  blackish 
on  legs  and  tail;  head 
more  or  less  grayish  or 
yellowish;  a  yellowish  or 
buffy  patch  on  throat  and 
breast;  cheek  teeth  5 
above  and  6  below  on 
each  side  of  jaw;  total 
length  usually  22  to  25 
inches. 
Genus  MUSTELA.p^S  I . 


Weasel. 

Cheek  teeth  4  above 
and  5  below  on  each  side 
of  jaw;  general  color  (in 
summer)  brown  above; 
under  parts  white  or 
yellowish;  or  (in  winter) 
general  color  white;  total 
length  from  7  to  16  inches. 

Genus  PUTORIUS, 

P-  358. 


Mink. 

Cheek  teeth  4  above 
and  5  below  on  each  side 
of  jaw;  general  color 
brown;  under  parts  brown 
with  generally  a  white 
spot  on  chin  and  often 
another  between  the  fore 
legs;  total  length  usually 
from  1 8  to  25  inches. 

Genus  PUTORIUS, 
(Subgenus  LUTREOLA), 
p.  361. 


330    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 


Subfamily  LUTRIN^E.     Otters. 

Otters  are  semi-aquatic,*  fish-eating  mammals  which  are  much 
hunted  on  account  of  the  fine  quality  of  their  fur.  There  are  at  least 
two  genera  and  a  number  of  species  distributed  throughout  many  parts 
of  the  world,  including  several  Neotropical  forms.  Of  the  eight  rec- 
ognized species  and  subspecies  in  North  America,  one  species  and 
perhaps  one  subspecies  are  found  within  our  limits.  They  are  generally 
taken  in  traps,  although  Otter  hunting  with  dogs  trained  for  the  purpose 
was  formerly  a  common  sport  in  England. 


Genus  LUTRA  Brisson. 

Lutra  Brisson,  Regn.  Anim.,   2nd  ed.,    1762,  p.   201.     Type  Mustela 

lutra  Linn. 

Body  long  ;  legs  short  ;  toes  webbed  ;  soles  of  feet  hairy  ;  tail  long  and 
rounded,  thick  at  base  and  tapering  ;  head  broad;  skull  flattened;  rostrum 
short;  audital  bullae  much  flattened;  upper  carnassial  with  tricuspid 
blade  and  a  large  inner  lobe;  upper  molar  large,  first  upper  premolar 
very  small;  general  color  brown.  (For  cut  of  skull  see  p.  276.) 

Dental  formula:  I.  ^^,  C.  ^4>  Pm.  ^—^,  M. 
-  ~ 


3-3         i-  3~3          2-2 

Lutra  canadensis  (SCHREBER). 
OTTER.     CANADA  OTTER. 

Mustela  lutra  canadensis  SCHREBER,  Saugthiere,  1776,  pi.  CXXVI  B. 

Lutra  Canadensis  LAPHAM,-  Trans.  Wis.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  II,  1852  (1853),  p.  339 
(Wisconsin).  KENNICOTT,  Trans.  111.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  I,  1853-54  (l855).  P-  578 
(Cook  Co.,  Illinois).  THOMAS,  Trans.  111.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  IV,  1859-60  (1861), 
p.  655  (Illinois). 

Lutra  canadensis  KENNICOTT,  Agr.  Rept.  for  1858,  U.  S.  Patent  Office  Rept.,  1859, 
p.  246  (Illinois).  MILES,  Rept.  Geol.  Surv.  Mich.,  I,  1860  (1861),  p.  220  (Mich- 
igan). ALLEN,  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  XIII,  1869  (1871),  p.  183  (Iowa). 
STRONG,  Geol.  Wis.,  Surv.  1873-79,  I.  l883>  P-  437  (Wisconsin).  HERRICK, 
Geol.  &  Nat.  Hist.  Surv.  Minn.,  Bull.  No.  7,  1892,  p.  129  (Minnesota).  SNYDER, 
Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  II,  1902,  p.  122  (Wisconsin).  HAHN,  Proc.  U.  S. 
Nat.  Mus.,  XXXII,  1907,  p.  463  (N.  W.  Indiana).  JACKSON,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat. 
Hist.  Soc.,  VI,  1908,  p.  27  (Wisconsin).  lb.,  VIII,  1910,  p.  89  (Wisconsin). 
WOOD,  Bull.  111.  State  Lab.  Nat.  Hist.,  VIII,  1910,  p.  581  (Illinois). 

Lutra  hudsonica  EVERMANN  &  BUTLER,  Proc.  Ind.  Acad.  Sci.,  1893  (1894),  p.  138 
(Indiana). 

*  The  Sea  Otter  (L.  lutris)  passes  so  much  of  its  life  in  the  water  that  it  can 
fairly  be  called  aquatic. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        331 

Type  locality  —  Eastern  Canada. 

Distribution  —  Nearly  the  whole  of  North  America,  Virginia,  Illinois, 

Missouri  and  Texas,  north  to  Labrador  and  Hudson  Bay  and  in  the 

Northwest  to  the  Arctic  Circle;  replaced  in  the  Southern  states, 

Florida  and  the  Pacific  Coast  by  closely  allied  forms. 
Description  —  General  color  rich  dark  brown ;  the  under  parts  lighter 

brown  than  the  back,  and  the  legs  and  feet  somewhat  darker;  throat 

grayish  brown,  shading  into  grayish  white  on  the  lips  and  chin; 

toes  webbed. 
Measurements  —  Total  length,  about  37  to  41  in.  (940  to  1040  mm.); 

tail  vertebrae,  12  to  13  in.  (304  to  330  mm.);  hind  foot,  about  4  in. 

(101.6  mm.). 

Otters  were  formerly  numerous  in  localities  where  there  was  water 
throughout  Illinois  and  Wisconsin,  but  at  the  present  time  their  range 
is  probably  restricted  to  the  greater  portion  of  Wisconsin  and  extreme 
southern  Illinois.  It  is  not  unlikely,  however,  that  stragglers  may 
still  be  found  in  other  parts  of  Illinois,  as  Hahn  states  that  specimens  are 
occasionally  taken  in  northern  Indiana  (/.  c.,  1907,  p.  463).  I  am 
informed  by  hunters  that  Otters  are  still  to  be  found  in  Alexander  and 
Union  counties,  and  Wood  states  that  during  the  winter  of  1907-8 
several  were  taken  in  the  cypress  swamps  of  Alexander  County  (/.  c., 
p.  581).  Otters  from  southern  Illinois  will  probably  be  found  to 
approach  L.  c.  lataxina,  a  slightly  different  southern  race,  but  for  lack 
of  specimens  from  that  locality  I  am  unable  to  decide  this  question. 

In  Wisconsin  it  is  not  uncommon  in  the  northern  portion  of  the  state, 
but  rare  in  the  southern.  Jackson  says  "There  was  an  Otter  slide  on 
the  banks  of  Lake  Koshkonong  during  the  summer  of  1901, "  and  records 
specimens  from  Bayfield  and  Oneida  counties"  (1.  c.,  1908,  p.  27).  I 
have  examined  specimens  from  Wai  worth,  Arena,  Bayfield,  Forest, 
Douglas  and  Langlade  counties,  and  Dr.  H.  V.  Ogden  has  a  skull  in  his 
collection  from  Waterford,  Racine  Co.  Jackson  records  specimens  of  two 
males  killed  February  12,  1908,  near  Crandon,  Forest  Co.,  and  says 
they  are  reported  as  quite  common  in  the  vicinity  of  Black  Oak  Lake 
and  Lake  Mamie  during  the  winter  of  1908-9  (/.  c.,  1910,  p.  89). 

The  Otter  is  a  semi-aquatic  animal  and  is  very  seldom  found  away 
from  water,  although*  it  is  a  great  traveler  and  will  often  go  overland 
for  a  considerable  distance  from  one  stream  to  another.  Its  food 
consists  largely  of  fish  which  it  catches  under  water  with  great  dexterity. 
Merriam  says:  "It  can  remain  under  water  almost  as  long  as  a  Loon, 
and  I  have  known  one  to  swim  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  mile  without  show- 
ing its  head  above  the  surface.  Its  food  consists  chiefly  of  various 
species  of  fish,  and  the  lobster-like  fresh  water  Decapod,  called  the 


332     FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.       333 

Cray-fish.  When  unable  to  procure  these  in  sufficient  quantity,  it 
devours  frogs,  and  is  said  to  depopulate  the  poultry  yard,  and  even 
prey  upon  young  lambs.  It  can  dive  and  swim  under  water  with  such 
speed  and  agility,  that  it  can  overtake  and  secure,  with  great  ease  and 
certainty,  almost  any  of  our  fresh  water  fishes."  * 

"Otter  slides,"  about  which  much  has  been  written,  are  smooth, 
worn  pathways  on  the  sides  of  banks  of  streams,  which  are  used  by  these 
animals.  Many  writers  claim  to  have  seen  them  amusing  themselves 
sliding  down  these  places  much  as  a  boy  enjoys  sliding  down  hill  in 
winter.  Audubon  and  Bachman  state  that  they  once  saw  a  pair  of 
these  animals  sliding  down  a  bank  and  say,  "We  counted  each  one 
making  twenty-two  slides  before  we  disturbed  their  sportive 
occupation."  f 

Kennicott  says:  "This  curious  habit  seems  to  be  indulged  in  by  the 
Otter  at  all  times,  when  a  suitable  place  can  be  found,  though  more  in 
the  love  season  than  any  other.  It  climbs  to  the  top  of  some  steep 
bank,  made  slippery  by  the  mud  and  water  from  its  own  body,  or,  in 
winter,  by  snow  and  ice,  and  lying  down  with  its  fore-feet  bent  under, 
slides  headlong  to  the  bottom.  Trappers  inform  me  that  they  have 
often  seen  the  Otter  thus  engaged  for  an  hour  or  more,  scrambling 
eagerly  to  the  top  after  each  descent  and  greatly  enjoying  the  sport." 
(/.  c.,  pp.  247-248.) 

The  Otter  makes  a  home  in  a  burrow  in  the  bank  of  some  stream  or 
pond.  The  young,  which  number  from  two  to  three,  are  usually  born 
in  April  and  when  first  born  their  eyes  are  closed.  When  taken  very 
young  they  become  very  tame  and  often  affectionate,  but  if  not  cap- 
tured until  six  or  eight  weeks  old  they  rarely  become  gentle  and  are 
usually  treacherous.  I  have  owned  a  number  of  young  Otters  at 
various  times  and  all  of  them  would  readily  eat  raw  meat,  but  they 
preferred  fish.  They  often  uttered  a  low  tremulous  cry  resembling 
that  of  a  fretful  baby.  One,  which  we  "brought  up  on  a  bottle," 
would  follow  my  wife  about  the  garden  and  into  the  house  and  seemed 
to  take  great  delight  in  being  petted. 

The  skins  of  these  animals  are  quite  valuable  and  in  much  demand, 
as  they  make  handsome  and  durable  furs.  Although  much  less  com- 
mon than  formerly,  great  numbers  of  these  animals  are  still  trapped  in 
Canada.  From  1895  to  1905  the  Hudson  Bay  Company  secured 
between  85,000  and  90,000  skins,  or  an  average  of  nearly  9,000  skins 
per  year.J 

*  Mamm.  Adirondack  Reg.,  1886,  pp.  87-88. 

t  Quadrupeds  of  North  Amer.,  II,  1851,  p.  8. 

J  Up  to  the  year  1906,  from  200  to  300  Otter  skins  were  annually  secured  by 
local  dealers  from  the  Indians  in  southeastern  Florida,  but  I  am  informed  that  since 
then  the  number  has  decidedly  decreased. 


334     FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 


Map  illustrating  approximate  distribution  of  Otters  in  eastern  North  America.     The  range  of 
Lutra  canadensis  extends  much  farther  north  than  shown  on  the  map. 


Lutra  canadensis  (SCHREBER).    Type  locality  —  Eastern  Canada.     Description  as 

previously  given. 
Lutra  c.  lataxina  (F.  CUVIER).     (Diet.  Scien.  Nat.,  XXVII,  1823,  p.  242.)     Type 

locality  —  South  Carolina.     Size  slightly  smaller  and  color  lighter  brown  than 

canadensis;  under  side  of  foot  more  sparsely  haired. 
Lutra  c.  vaga  (BANGS).    (Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  XXVIII,  1898,  p.  224.)     Type 

locality  —  Micco,  Brevard  Co.,  Florida.     General   color  more   reddish  brown 

than  canadensis. 
Lutra  degener  BANGS.    (Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XII,  1898,  p.  35.)    Type  locality  — 

Bay  St.  George,  Newfoundland.     A  small  insular  form. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        335 

Specimens  examined  from  Wisconsin: 

Wisconsin  —  Eagle  Lake,  i ;  (M.  P.  M.)  Prairie  du  Lac,  i ;  Walworth 
Co.,  i;  Arena,  Iowa  Co.,  i;  (O.  C.)  Drummond,  Bayfield  Co. 
(skull),  i;  Gordon,  Douglas  Co.  (skull),  i;  Langlade  Co.  (skull), 


Subfamily  MELIN^.      Skunks  and  Badgers. 

Members  of  this  subfamily  are  found  in  both  the  Old  and  New  World. 
They  are  burrowing  animals  and  largely  nocturnal  in  habits.  The 
Skunks  are  notorious  for  their  ability  to  eject  a  noxious  smelling  fluid 
for  a  considerable  distance  when  angry  or  excited.  The  two  glands 
containing  this  liquid  are  situated  on  each  side  of  the  rectum  and  are 
connected  by  a  duct  with  a  nipple-like  papilla  which  can  be  voluntarily 
protruded  from  the  anus.  In  young  animals  the  removal  of  these 
glands  is  a  comparatively  simple  operation.*  When  taken  sufficiently 
young  they  make  gentle  and  interesting  pets. 

The  earliest  mention  of  Skunks  in  North  America  seems  to  be  the 
one  given  by  Gabriel  Sagard  Theodat  in  1636,  in  which  he  refers  to 
these  animals  as  Children  of  the  Devil  ("enfans  du  diable")-t  "Child 
of  the  Devil"  appears  to  have  been  a  recognized  name  for  a  Skunk 
among  the  French  in  Canada  in  early  days,  as  it  is  so  referred  to  by 
Charlevoix  t  and  others.  The  etymology  of  the  name  Skunk,  by 
which  it  was  known  later,  is  obscure,  but  Dr.  Cones  suggests  that  it 
may  have  had  its  origin  in  the  Cree  Indian  name  "See  cawk  .  .  ., 
as  the  sound  is  not  so  very  different  though  the  literal  discrepancy  is 
great.'  § 

The  Badgers,  which  also  belong  to  this  subfamily,  comprise  several 
genera  and  a  number  of  species.  The  American  Badger  (Taxidea) 
with  its  four  subspecies  is  confined  to  North  America  and  is  genetically 
distinct  from  Old  World  forms.  A  species  which  occurs  in  Java  (Mydaus 

*  I  have  successfully  performed  this  operation  on  several  occasions  with 
species  of  both  Mephitis  and  SpUogale. 

t  "Les  enfans  du  diable,  que  les  Hurons  appellent  Scangaresse,  &  le  commun 
des  Montagnais  Babougi  Manitou,  ou  Ouinesque,  est  un  beste  fort  puante,  de  la 
grandeur  d'un  chat  ou  d'un  ieune  renard,  mais  elle  a  la  teste  un  peu  moins  aigue,  & 
la  peau  couuerte  d'un  gros  poil  rude  &  enfume,  et  sa  grosse  queue  retrousse"e  de 
mesme,  elle  se  cache  en  Hyuer  sous  la  neige,  &  ne  sort  point  qu'au  commencement 
de  la  Lunedu  mois  de  Mars,  laquelle  les  Montagnais  nomment  Ouiniscon  pismi, 
qui  signifie  la  Lune  de  la  Ouinesque.  Get  animal,  outre  qu'il  est  de  fort  mauuaise 
odeur,  est  tres-malicieux  &  d'un  laid  regard,  ils  iettent  aussi  (a  ce  qu'on  dit)  parmy 
leurs  excremens  de  petits  serpens,  longs  &  deliez,  les  quels  ne  viuent  neant  moins. 
gueres  long  temps."  (Hist.  Canada,  1636,  p.  748.) 

t  Nouv.  France,  V.,  1744,  p.  196. 

§  Fur-bearing  Animals,  1877,  p.  221. 


336     FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

meliceps)  has  the  power  of  ejecting  a  fetid  liquid  like  the  Skunks.  In 
early  days  in  England  the  so-called  sport  of  Badger-baiting  or  "  Drawing 
the  Badger"  was  popular.  A  Badger  was  placed  in  a  barrel  and  dogs 
attempted  to  pull  him  out.  In  these  contests  both  dogs  and  Badger 
were  usually  badly  bitten  and  often  killed. 

The  European  Badger  (Meles)  was  well  known  to  ancient  writers, 
and  some  of  their  descriptions  of  it  are  curious.  Writing  in  1607  Edward 
Topsell  says,*  "He  hath  verie  sharpe  teeth,  and  is  therefore  accounted 
a  deepe-biting  beaste.  His  back  is  broad,  his  legs  (as  some  say)  longer 
on  the  right  side  than  on  the  left,  and  therefore  he  runneth  best  when  he 
getteth  to  the  side  of  a  hill,  or  a  cart-road-away." 


KEY   TO   THE    SKUNKS 

WHICH  OCCUR  IN  ILLINOIS  OR  WISCONSIN,   OR  WHICH   MAY  BE 
LOOKED  FOR   WITHIN   OUR  LIMITS. 

h 

GROUP  1.  Back  usually  with  two' white  stripes  joining  at  the  shoulder;  total  length 

more  than  21  inches. 

Tail  vertebrae  9  inches  or  more  in  length;  tail  ending  with  a  blunt  brush,  end 

entirely  black  without  white  pencil;  palate  ending  with  even  curve,  without 

•   median  spine;    zygomata  widely  expanded  at  posterior  end  and  slanting 

abruptly  forward;  white  stripes  of  body  extending  down  sides  of  tail.     Occurs 

from  northern  edge  of  Illinois  northward  throughout  Wisconsin. 

HUDSONIAN  SKUNK,  NORTHERN  SKUNK. 
Mephitis  hudsonica,  p.  340. 

Tail  vertebras  usually  less  than  9  inches  long;  tail  usually  wholly  black,  the 
white  stripes  of  body  generally  not  extending  on  the  sides;  end  of  tail  occa- 
sionally with  a  white  pencil;  palate  ending  with  even  curve,  without  median 
spine;  zygomata  less  widely  expanded  at  posterior  end  than  in  hudsonica  and 
with  bend  less  abrupt.  Occurs  in  Illinois  and  southern  Wisconsin. 

ILLINOIS  SKUNK.     Mephitis  mephitis  avia,  p.  344. 

GROUP  2.  Back  with  four  broken  white  stripes;  size  comparatively  small,  less  than 

21  inches. 

End  of  tail  broadly  white;  4  well-marked  white  stripes  on  back,  the  median  pair 
narrower  than  the  outer  pair.  A  southern  species  which  is  claimed  to  have 
been  taken  in  southern  Illinois.  ALLEGHENIAN  SPOTTED  SKUNK. 

Spilogale  putorius,  p.  346. 

Tail  wholly  black  or  with  very  little  white  at  the  tip;  general  coloration  showing 
much  more  black  than  in  putorius,  the  white  markings  being  much  smaller 
and  more  broken.  Has  not  yet  been  taken  within  our  limits,  but  occurs  in 
Iowa  and  south-eastern  Minnesota  and  may  be  found  in  western  Wisconsin. 

PRAIRIE  SPOTTED  SKUNK. 
Spilogale  interrupta,  p.  348. 

*  Historie  of  Foure  Footed  Beastes,  London,  1607,  p.  34. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.       337 

It  is  not  improbable  that  fairly  typical  examples  of  Mephitis  mephitis 
may  be  found  in  northeastern  Wisconsin  and  M.  m.  putida  in  eastern 
Illinois.  In  the  regions  mentioned  intergradation  is  likely  to  occur 
and  doubtful  specimens  should  be  sent  to  specialists  for  identification. 
The  characters  by  which  the  two  forms  may  be  recognized  are  as 
follows :  • 

GROUP  1.  Back  with  two  white  stripes  joining  at  the  shoulder. 

White  stripes  extending  down  sides  of  tail;  tail  tapering  and  the  end  white; 
zygomata  relatively  heavier  than  hudsonica  but  not  so  widely  expanded;  tail 
vertebrae  averaging  less  than  9.50  inches;  palate  ending  in  even  curve  without 
median  spine;  total  length  generally  23  to  27  inches;  tail  vertebrae  7.50  to 
9  inches.  CANADA  SKUNK.  Mephitis  mephitis. 

White  stripes  of  body  usually  not  extending  on  tail;  tail  black,  ending  in  a  wliite 
pencil ;  palate  with  distinct  median  spine;  tail  averaging  longer  than  in  mephitis; 
total  length  22  to  24.50  inches;  tail  vertebrae  8.50  to  9.75  inches. 

EASTERN  SKUNK.     Mephitis  mephitis  putida. 


Genus  MEPHITIS  Cuvier. 

Mephitis  Cuvier,  Lecons  d'Anat.  Comp.,  1, 1800,  tab.  I  (facing  page  322). 
Body  thick  set;  legs  rather  short;  fur  thick,  color  black  and  white, 
the  white  occasionally  tinged  with  tawny  or  yellow;  extent  of  white 
marking  variable,  usually  two  dorsal  white  stripes;  tail  bushy,  claws 
curved;  ears  short;  superior  anal  glands,  containing  defensive  odorous 
secretions,  highly  developed.  Skull  somewhat  arched,  highest  in  the 
frontal  region;  upper  molar  larger  than  the  carnassial,  subquadrate, 
and  broader  than  long;  lower  carnassial  longer  than  high:  bullae  flat- 
tened; auditory  meatus  tubular  but  not  noticeably  extending  beyond 
the  skull;  posterior  end  of  palate  nearly  on  a  line  with  back  of  last 
molar. 

Dental  formula:  I.  ^>  C.  — ,  Pm.  ^,  M.  ^=34. 
3-3        i-i  3-3          2-2 

Two  forms  of  the  large  Skunks  belonging  to  the  genus  Mephitis 
are  known  to  occur  in  Illinois,  and  it  is  not  unlikely  that  the  range  of 
two  others,  mephitis  and  putida,  may  be  found  to  cross  our  border. 
No  typical  specimens  of  putida  have,  so  far  as  known,  been  taken  in 
Illinois,  although  it  is  given  by  Hahn  as  the  common  form  occurring 
throughout  Indiana,  where,  according  to  Howell  its  range  meets  that 
of  the  Illinois  Skunk,  M.  m.  avia.  Mephitis  mephitis  is  common  in 
Ontario  along  the  northern  borders  of  the  Great  Lakes  and  it  is  by  no 
means  improbable  that  its  range  may  be  found  to  extend  into  the 
Michigan  peninsula.  A  series  of  specimens  from  Green  Bay,  north- 
eastern Wisconsin,  are  perplexing  in  that  they  are  not  typical  of  any 


338     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 


Skulls  of  Skunks  belonging  to  ihe  genus  Mephitis. 
i.  M.  m.  putida;*  2.  M.  m.  avia,  3.  M.  mephitis;  4.  M.  hudsonica. 

*  In  M.  m.  putida  the  palatal  spine  is  often  more  pronounced  than  is  shown  here. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        339 

form  and  apparently  show  marked  intergradation.  When  the  time 
comes  that  a  sufficiently  large  series  from  various  localities  can  be 
gathered  together  for  comparison,  it  may  be  found  that  all  of  our 
large  Skunks  belonging  to  this  genus  are  merely  geographical  races  of 
one  or  possibly  two  species,  four  of  which  intergrade  within  our  limits. 
For  the  laity  it  is  perhaps  as  well  to  consider  all  the  Skunks  belonging 
to  the  genus  Mephitis,  which  are  found  within  our  limits,  to  be  either 
hudsonica  or  avia,  but  many  specimens  are*  not  typical  of  either  and 
possess  characters  more  or  less  approaching  mephitis  or  putida,  as 
shown  by  the  following  brief  descriptions  of  a  series  of  Skunks  in  the 
Field  Museum  collection  from  Green  Bay,  Wisconsin.  The  measure- 
ments are  in  millimeters. 

No.  11708,  9  — Palate  with  distinct  median  spine,  but  zygomata  widely  expanded; 
white  stripes  extending  on  sides  of  tail  about  y$  its  length;  end  of  tail  blunt  and 
entirely  black. 

Total  length,  625;  tail  vertebrae,  195;  hind  foot,  63.5. 

No.   11706,  9  —  Palate  with  distinct  median  spine  and  skull  similar  to  preceding; 
tail  mostly  black,  but  ending  with  a  long  white  pencil. 
Total  length,  660;  tail  vertebras,  220;  hind  foot,  68. 

No.  11704,  cf — Palate  with  indication  of  median  spine;  skull  narrower  than 
hudsonica  and  zygomata  approaching  mephitis;  white  stripes  extending  on  sides 
of  tail  to  about  >£  its  length;  end  of  tail  blunt  and  entirely  black. 

Total  length,  615;  tail  vertebrae,  185;  hind  foot,  64.5. 

No.  11703,  cf  —  Palate  evenly  rounded,  without  spine;  white  stripes  extending  on 
tail  y$  its  length;  end  of  tail  black. 

Total  length,  560;  tail  vertebrae,  174;  hind  foot,  56.5. 

No.  11702,  o" —  Palate  without  median  spine;  skull  narrower  and  zygomata 
approaching  mephitis  more  than  avia;  white  stripes  extending  on  tail;  whole  end 
of  tail  broadly  white. 

Total  length,  600;  tail  vertebrae,  215;  hind  foot,  61. 

No.  11701,  c?  — Skull  badly  broken;  zygomata  badly  broken  and  absent;  white 
stripes  extending  on  sides  of  tail;  end  of  tail  blunt  and  entirely  black. 

Total  length,  655;  tail  vertebrae,  230;  hind  foot,  74. 

No.  11707,  9  — Skull  badly  broken;  palate  without  median  spine;  white  stripes 
extending  on  sides  of  tail  about  %  its  length;  tail  mixed  with  long  white  hairs; 
end  of  tail  black. 

Total  length,  675;  tail  vertebrae,  220;  hind  foot,  67.5. 

No.  11720,  9  —  Skull  large  but  badly  broken,  palate  without  median  spine;  white 
stripes  extending  but  slightly  on  base  of  tail;  end  of  tail  black,  with  a  few  long 
white  hairs  extending  from  the  tip. 

Total  length,  685;  tail  vertebrae,  220;  hind  foot,  70. 

No.  11721,  9  — Palate  evenly  rounded,  without  median  spine;  skull  approaching 
mephitis;  white  stripes  short,  not  reaching  the  rump;  rump  entirely  black;  tail 
black,  with  the  whole  end  white  for  about  4  inches. 

Total  length,  635;  tail  vertebrae,  215;  hind  foot,  69. 

No.  18395,  c?  —  Galena,  Illinois,  Skull  resembling  avia,  but  white  stripes  of  body 
extending  on  sides  of  tail  nearly  to  the  end;  end  of  tail  black;  a  small  white  spot 
on  the  lower  part  of  the  throat. 

Total  length,  623;  tail  vertebrae,  258;  hind  foot,  75. 


340     FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

On  September  6,  1910,  an  old  Skunk  with  three  young,  the  latter 
about  two  thirds  grown,  were  taken  by  Mr.  W.  E.  Snyder  at  Beaver 
Dam,  Dodge  Co.,  Wisconsin,  and  the  specimens  were  sent  to  me  for 
determination.  The  skull  of  the  adult  approaches  avia,  but  has  a 
palatal  spine  slightly  indicated;  the  tail  is  black  except  a  few  white 
hairs  near  the  middle;  the  end  of  the  tail  is  blunt  and  entirely  black. 
The  young  show  some  slight  cranial  differences;  in  two  of  them  a 
palatal  spine  is  slightly  indicated;  in  the  third  it  is  entirely  absent. 
All  of  the  young  have  the  white  stripes  of  the  body  extending  on  base  of 
tail  and  all  have  the  tails  terminating  with  a  long  white  pencil  (4  to  5 
inches  long). 

Mephitis  hudsonica  (RICHARDSON). 

NORTHERN  SKUNK.     HUDSONIAN  SKUNK.     POLECAT. 

Mephitis  americana  var.  hudsonica  RICHARDSON,  Fauna  Bor.  Amer.,  I,  1829,  p.  55. 

Mephitis  hudsonica  ADAMS,  Rept.  State  Board  Geol.  Surv.  Mich.,  1905  (1906),  p. 
130  (Michigan).  JACKSON,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  VI,  1908,  p.  28  (Wiscon- 
sin). HOLLISTER,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  VI,  1908,  p.  141  (Wisconsin). 

Chincha  hudsonica  HOWELL,  N.  Amer.  Fauna,  No.  20,  1901,  p.  24  (Minnesota,  etc.). 

Type  locality  —  Plains  of  Saskatchewan. 

Distribution  —  From  Lake  Michigan  west  to  the  Rocky  Mountains  and 
northwest  through  Manitoba  to  the  Great  Slave  Lake  region,  in 
the  western  portion  of  its  Canadian  range  nearly  reaching  the  coast. 
Description  —  Typical  form :  Size  large ;  tail  with  a  blunt  brush,  the 
end  black  without  a  white  pencil ;  general  color  black ;  a  narrow  white 
stripe  extends  from  the  nose,  passing  between  the  eyes  to  the 
crown;  a  large  white  patch  on  the  back  of  the  neck  extending  in  a 
white  stripe  which  narrows  between  the  shoulders  and  divides  into 
two  lateral  stripes  which  continue  down  the  back  and  on  sides  of 
tail  often  nearly  to  the  tip;  black  hairs  of  tail  white  at  the  base; 
entire  under  parts  black;  skull  large;  zygomata  widely  expanded 
posteriorly;  palate  without  median  spine. 

Measurements  —  Total  length  (male),  26.50  to  29.50  in.  (672  to  750 
mm.) ;  tail  vetebrse,  9.50  to  n  in.  (242  to  279  mm.) ;  hind  foot,  about 
3.75  in.  (82  mm.).  Female:  Total  length,  22.50  to  26  in.  (572  to  660 
mm.);  tail  vertebrae,  9.25  to  10.25  in.  (235  to  260  mm.);  hind  foot, 
about  3  in.  (76  mm.). 

The  Northern  or  Hudsonian  Skunk  is  supposed  to  be  the  common 
form  throughout  the  greater  portion  of  Wisconsin.  Hollister  states  that 
out  of  28  Skunks  collected  near  Delavan,  Wai  worth  Co.,  25  were 
hudsonica  and  only  3  avia  (1.  c.,  p.  141).  Jackson  says  all  the  specimens 
he  examined  from  various  parts  of  the  state  proved  to  be  hudsonica 
(1.  c.,  p.  28).  While  the  majority  of  Wisconsin  Skunks  may  probably 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        341 


342     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

be  referred  to  this  species,  many  of  them,  as  has  already  been  shown,  are 
not  typical  and  strongly  suggest  intergradation. 

Skunks  may  be  numbered  among  our  best  known  animals,  and, 
although  they  have  the  reputation  of  being  undesirable  neighbors, 
largely  on  account  of  their  malodorous  qualities,  they  are  in  reality 
one  of  our  prettiest  mammals.  They  are  naturally  inoffensive  and  are 
of  great  practical  value  to  the  farmer,  as  they  destroy  enormous  quanti- 
ties of  grasshoppers,  beetles,  etc.  and  they  also  prey  upon  and  kill 
large  numbers  of  Mice,  Ground  Squirrels,  and  other  small  mammals. 
It  is  true  that  they  occasionally  kill  chickens  and  suck  eggs  when  they 
find  a  nest,  but  the  harm  which  they  do  is  as  nothing  when  compared 
with  their  value  to  the  agriculturist  in  ridding  his  gardens  and  fields 
of  the  various  pests  which  destroy  his  crops. 

Skunks  usually  make  their  homes  in  burrows  in  the  ground,  although 
they  are  not  averse  to  living  under  an  outbuilding  or  occasionally  in 
an  old  hollow  stump  or  log.  In  very  cold  weather  there  is  no  doubt 
that  they  hibernate  to  a  more  or  less  extent,  but  their  sleep  cannot  be 
very  deep  or  protracted,  for  on  mild  winter  days  I  have  often  seen 
their  fresh  tracks  in  the  snow.  Sometimes  several  Skunks  live  in  a  den 
in  winter  and  it  is  claimed  that  four  or  five  are  often  found  together 
and  sometimes  as  many  as  ten.  It  would  seem  probable  that  in  most 
cases  they  are  members  of  one  family  of  the  preceding  season,  although 
Kennicott  states  that  as  many  as  fifteen  have  been  found  in  winter 
lying  in  one  nest.* 

The  young  are  born  in  April  or  early  in  May  and  usually  number 
from  4  to  6,  rarely  more,  although  as  many  as  ten  in  a  litter  have  been 
recorded.  They  are  very  pretty  little  animals  and,  as  already  stated, 
when  taken  young  and  the  scent  glands  removed  they  make  interesting 
and  often  affectionate  pets. 

Regarding  the  scent  glands  of  these  animals  I  cannot  do  better  than 
quote  my  esteemed  friend,  Dr.  C.  Hart  Merriam,  who  says:f 

"His  chief  weapon  of  defence  lies  in  the  secretion  of  a  pair  of  anal 
glands,  that  lie  on  either  side  of  the  rectum,  and  are  imbedded  in  a 
•dense  gizzard-like  mass  of  muscle  which  serves  to  compress  them  so 
forcibly  that  the  contained  fluid  may  be  ejected  to  the  distance  of  four 
or  five  metres  (approximately  13  to  i6>^  feet).  Each  sac  is  furnished 
with  a  single  duct  that  leads  into  a  prominent  nipple-like  papilla  that  is 
•capable  of  being  protruded  from  the  anus,  and  by  means  of  which  the 
direction  of  the  jet  is  governed.  The  secretion  is  a  clear,  limpid  fluid 
of  an  amber  or  golden  yellow  color,  has  an  intensely  acid  reaction,  and, 

*  U.  S.  Agr.  Kept,  for  1858,  U.  S.  Patent  Office  Rept.,  1859,  p.  249. 
t  Mamm.  Adirondack  Reg.,  1886,  pp.  76-78. 


FEB.,  1912.'   MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        343 

in  the  evening  is  slightly  luminous.  On  standing  in  a  bottle,  a  flocculent, 
whitish  precipitate  separates  and  falls  to  the  bottom.  The  fluid  some- 
times shows  a  decided  greenish  cast,  and  it  always  possesses  an  odor 
that  is  characteristic,  and  in  some  respects  unique.  Its  all-pervading, 
penetrating  and  lasting  properties  are  too  well  known  to  require  more 
than  passing  comment.  I  have  known  the  scent  to  become  strikingly 
apparent  in  every  part  of  a  well  closed  house,  in  winter,  within  five 
minutes  after  a  Skunk  had  been  killed  at  a  distance  of  a  hundred  metres 
(about  twenty  rods) !  The  odor  generally  remains  noticeable  for  weeks 
and  sometimes  for  months,  about  the  place  where  one  has  been  killed. 
The  condition  of  the  atmosphere  has  much  to  do  in  determining  the 
matter,  for  the  more  humid  the  air  and  the  higher  the  temperature, 
the  farther  is  the  scent  discernible,  and  the  longer  does  it  last.  Under 
favorable  conditions  it  is  certainly  distinctly  recognizable  at  a  distance 
of  a  mile,  and  DeKay  quotes  a  statement  from  the  Medical  Repository 
that  a  Dr.  Wiley  of  Rock  Island  'distinctly  perceived  the  smell  of  a 
Skunk,  although  the  nearest  land  was  twenty  miles  distant.' 

"The  scent  glands  of  the  Skunk  may  be  removed,  bodily,  without  in 
any  way  affecting  the  health  or  happiness  of  the  animal.  The  gizzard- 
like  mass  of  muscle  in  which  they  are  imbedded  completely  surrounds 
the  gut,  just  at  the  outlet  of  the  pelvis,  and  is  attached  to  the  tuberosities 
of  the  ischium.  The  chief  danger  attending  the  operation  is  the  liabil- 
ity of  wounding  the  rectum,  or  of  creating  so  much  irritation  about  it 
that  the  subsequent  inflammation  and  cicatrization  will  result  in 
stricture  of  that  important  viscus.  Care  must  also  be  exercised  in 
order  to  avoid  wounding  the  genito-urinary  passages.  I  have  operated, 
with  complete  success,  both  with  and  without  antiseptic  precautions. 
A  much  simpler  operation,  where  the  end  in  view  is  merely  to  disarm 
the  animal,  is  that  performed  by  Dr.  J.  M.  Warren  of  Boston,  in  the 
year  1849.  It  consists  of  making  an  incision  through  the  skin,  directly 
in  front  of  the  anus,  and  in  snipping  the  ducts  of  the  glands,  at  the  bases 
of  the  nipple-like  papillae  which  project  into  the  gut,  just  within  the 
sphincter.  Adhesive  inflammation  follows  and  permanently  occludes 
the  ducts  at  the  point  of  division." 

Much  has  been  written  about  ''mad  skunks"  and  the  danger  of 
hydrophobia  if  bitten  by  them.  While  there  is  no  doubt  that  Skunks 
can  contract  hydrophobia,  in  my  opinion  they  rarely  do  so.  I  have 
myself  been  twice  bitten  by  Skunks  and  know  several  people  who  have 
been  bitten  by  them,  but  in  no  instance  was  there  any  after  ill  effects 
other  than  would  be  produced  by  any  simple  wound.  Dr.  Merriam, 
who  has  been  bitten  several  times  by  Skunks,  does  not  consider  their 
bites  more  dangerous  than  any  other  of  our  common  mammals.  Cases 


344     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

of  hydrophobia  from  the  bite  of  a  Skunk  have  been  reported,  however, 
where  persons  have  been  bitten  with  fatal  results.*  The  flesh  of  young 
Skunks  is  very  good,  as  I  can  testify  from  personal  experience.  Dr. 
Merriam  says  it  "  is  delicious  eating.  It  is  not  unlike  chicken,  but  is 
more  delicate  and  its  taste  is  particularly  agreeable"  (/.  c.,  p.  76). 

Enormous  numbers  of  Skunks  are  annually  trapped  and  their  skins 
sold  for  furs  which  in  many  cases  are  offered  for  sale  as  "Alaska  Sable." 

Mephitis  mephitis  avia  (BANGS). 
ILLINOIS  SKUNK. 

Mephitis  avia  BANGS,  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XII,  1898,  p.  32. 
Mephitis  mesomelas  avia  HOLLISTER,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  VI,  1908,  p.  141 
(Wisconsin). 

Type  locality  —  San  Jose,  Mason  Co.,  Illinois. 

Distribution  —  Illinois  to  southern  Wisconsin,  eastern  Iowa,  eastern 

Missouri  and  western  Indiana;  exact  limits  of  range  uncertain. 
Description  —  Somewhat  smaller  than  hudsonica,  pattern  of  coloration 
similar,  but  extent  of  white  marking  variable;  in  some  specimens 
the  white  stripes  end  about  the  middle  of  the  back,  in  others  they 
continue  to  the  tail;  tail  usually  entirely  black,  but  occasionally 
with  white  pencil;  zygomata  less  widely  expanded  posteriorly  than 
in  hudsonica  and  with  less  abrupt  bend  than  in  hudsonica.  May 
generally  be  distinguished  from  hudsonica  by  somewhat  smaller 
size  and  shorter  tail  (tail  vertebrae  usually  less  than  9  inches  long), 
shape  of  zygomata,  etc.;  and  from  putida  by  absence  of  distinct 
median  spine  on  the  palate,  no  white  pencil  at  end  of  tail,  etc. 
Measurements  —  Total  length  (male),  25  to  27  in.  (625  to  686  mm.); 
tail  vertebrae,  7  to  8.50  in.  (175  to  215  mm.);  hind  foot,  about  2.60 
in.  (65  mm.).  Total  length  (female),  23  to  25.50  in.  (580  to  650 
mm.);  tail  vertebrae,  6.25  to  7.25  in.  (158  to  184  mm.);  hind  foot, 
about  2.50  (62  mm.). 

The  Illinois  Skunk  is  the  common  form  which  occurs  throughout 
Illinois,  and  it  has  been  recorded  from  southern  Wisconsin;  but  the 
limits  of  its  range  in  the  latter  state  have  not  been  satisfactorily  deter- 
mined. Hollister  records  3  specimens  from  Delavan,  identified  by 
Howell  (I.  c.,  p.  141),  and  I  have  examined  a  number  of  Wisconsin 
Skunks  which  might  be  referred  to  this  form;  but,  as  has  already  been 
statedf  the  variation  in  markings  and  size  of  different  individuals  often 

*  See  Dr.  J.  S.  Janeway,  N.  Y.  Med.  Rec.,  March,  1875;  also  Coues,  Fur  Bearing 
Animals,  1877,  p.  229. 
t  See  ante,  p.  339. 


FEB.,  1912.    MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        345 


m.   putida 


M.   m.  a  via 


M.  m.  mesomelas 


Area  of  intergradation 


Map  showing  supposed  distribution  of  Skunks  belonging  to  the  genus  Mephitis  in  Illinois  and 
Wisconsin  and  adjoining  states. 


Mephitis  hudsonica  (RICHARDSON).  Type  locality  —  Plains  of  the  Saskatchewan, 
Canada.  Size  large ;  total  length  from  26  to  29  inches ;  tail  with  blunt  black  brush 
at  tip,  without  white  pencil;  no  median  spine  on  palate;  description  as  previously 
given. 

Mephitis  mephitis  (SCHREBER).  (Saugthiere,  III,  1776,  p.  444,  tab.  CXXI.)  Type 
locality — "America."  (The  name  is  now  restricted  to  the  northern  form  of  the 
Eastern  Skunk.)  Palate  without  median  spine;  zygomata  heavy  and  not  greatly 
expanded;  tail  rather  short,  mixed  black  and  white,  the  end  white. 

Mephitis  m.  avia  (BANGS).  Type  locality  —  San  Jose,  Illinois.  Description  as 
previously  given.  Resembles  mesomelas,  but  larger;  tail  more  than  half  the 
length  of  body  and  usually  wholly  black. 

Mephitis  m.  putida  (BOITARD).  (Jard.  Plantes  Paris,  Mamm.,  1842,  p.  147.)  Type 
locality  —  New  Jersey.  Palate  with  distinct  median  spine;  end  of  tail  with 
white  pencil;  tail  vertebrae  less  than  n  inches. 

Mephitis  m.  mesomelas  (LICHTENSTEIN).  (Darst.  Saugeth.,  1832,  text,  pi.  45,  fig.  2.) 
Type  locality  —  Louisiana.  Palate  without  median  spine ;  size  small ;  tail 
usually  wholly  black;  length  about  23  inches;  tail  vertebrae  about  9  inches. 

Mephitis  m.  elongata  BANGS.  (Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  XXVI,  1895,  p.  531.) 
Type  locality  —  Micco,  Brevard  Co.,  Florida.  Size  medium;  tail  long,  usual 
over  11.50  inches,  with  white  pencil;  palate  with  spine;  frontal  region  arched; 
rostrum  broad. 


346     FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

from  the  same  locality  is  perplexing  and  many  specimens  occur,  espe- 
cially in  Wisconsin,  which  appear  to  be  intergrades. 

The  habits  of  this  form  are  apparently  similar  to  those  of  the  North- 
ern or  Hudsonian  Skunk  which  has  already  been  described. 


Genus  SPILOGALE  Gray. 

Spilogale  Gray,  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  Lond.,  1865,  p.  150.     Type  Mephitis 

inter rupta  Rafmesque. 

Size  smaller  than  Mephitis;  skull  somewhat  flattened;  audital 
bullas  inflated ;  auditory  meatus  tubular  and  directed  obliquely  forward ; 
zygomata  prominently  arched,  the  highest  point  at  the  middle;  back 
with  four  white  stripes. 

Dental  formula:  I.  — ^»  C.  -  — ,  Pm.  ^— ^>  M.  - — -=34. 
3-3         i-i  3-3  2-2 

Spilogale  putorius  (LINN.). 
ALLEGHENIAN  SPOTTED  SKUNK.     CIVET  CAT. 

Viverra  putorius  LINNAEUS,  Syst.  Nat.,  X  ed.,  I,  1758,  p.  44. 

Spilogale  putorius  HOWELL,  N.  Amer.  Fauna,  No.  26,  1906,  p.  15  (Tennessee,  etc.). 

Ib.,  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XXIII,  1910,  p.  32  (Illinois,  Kentucky). 
Type  locality  —  South  Carolina. 

Distribution  —  From  Virginia  to  Georgia  in  the  interior,  and  westward 
to  eastern  Arkansas  and  Missouri,  north  to  western  Kentucky, 
southern  Illinois  and  southern  Indiana;  exact  western  limits  of 
range  unknown. 

Description  —  General  color  black  and  white ;  four  white  stripes  on  the 
back,  which  are  broken  on  the  lower  back  and  appear  as  irregular 

spots  or  bands;  a 
white  patch  on  the 
forehead ;  end  of 
tail  white. 

Measurements — Total 
length,  18.50  to  22 

Spilogale  putorius.  ln-       (47°      ^O      558 

mm.) ;  tail  verte- 
bras, 7.50  to  8.70  in.  (190.5  to  220  mm.);  hind  foot,  about  2  in. 
(46  to  51  mm.). 

This  species  is  claimed  to  occur  in  southern  Illinois.  Howell  states: 
"They  are  reported  to  be  fairly  common  at  Golconda,  Illinois;"  and 
Hahn  includes  it  in  his  mammals  of  Indiana  as  occurring  in  Knox 
County.  Hunters  inform  me  that  there  are  two  kinds  of  Skunks  in 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  or  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        347 

southern  Illinois,  "a  large  one  and  a  little  one."  There  is  little  doubt 
that  a  Spotted  Skunk  occurs  in  the  southern  portion  of  the  state,  but 
so  far  as  known  no  collector  has  actually  secured  a  specimen.  It  may 
be  readily  distinguished  from  our  common  Skunks  (Mephitis)  by  its 
smaller  size  and  four  white  back  stripes. 


Map  illustrating  supposed  distribution  of  Skunks  belonging  to  the  genus  Spilogale  in  eastern 
United  States;  the  range  limits  of  the  various  forms  are  not  definitely  known. 

Spilogale    putorius    (LiNN.).     Type  .  locality  —  South    Carolina.     Description    as 

previously  given. 
Spilogale  interrupta  (RAFINESQUE)  .    (Annals  of  Nature,  I,  1820,  p.  3.)    Type  locality 

—  "Upper  Missouri"  River.      Similar  to  putorius,  but  with  white  stripes  more 
broken  and  white  marking  less  in  extent;  tail  entirely  black  or  with  only  a  few 
white  hairs  at  tip. 

Spilogale  ambarvalis  BANGS.  (Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  1898,  p.  222.)  Type 
locality  —  Oak  Lodge,  opposite  Micco,  Brevard  Co.,  Florida.  Size  small; 
white  marking  prominent  and  tail  short.  Total  length,  about  15.75  m-  (400 
mm.)  or  less;  tail  vertebrae  less  than  6  in.  (152  mm.). 

Spilogale  indianola  MERRIAM.    (N.  Amer.  Fauna,  No.  4,  1890,  p.  10.)    Type  locality 

—  Indianola,  Texas.     Body  marking  similar  to  interrupta,  but  end  of  tail  white 
usually  for  about  one-third  its  length. 


348     FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

Spilogale  interrupta  (RAFINESQUE),  PRAIRIE  SPOTTED  SKUNK. 
This  species  may  occur  in  western  Wisconsin,  as  its  range  is  known  to 
extend  to  northeastern  Iowa  and  the  southeastern  border  of  Minne- 
sota, but  so  far  as  known  it  has  not  as  yet  been  taken  within  our 
limits.  It  resembles  S.  putorius,  but  it  is  a  much  blacker  animal,  the 
white  marking  being  more  restricted  and  the  stripes  more  broken. 


Genus  TAXIDEA  Storr. 

Taxidea  Storr,  Prodr.  Meth.  Mamm.,  1780,  p.  34.     Type  Ursus  taxus 

Schreber. 

Body  stout;  tail  short;  fore  claws  large  and  long,  highly  developed 
for  digging;  skull  noticeably  wide  across  occipital;  upper  carnassial 
teeth  large;  bullae  very  large;  lamboidal  crest  greatly  developed  in 
adult;  sagittal  crest  small.  (For  cut  of  skull  see  p.  276.) 

Dental  formula:  I.  ^^,  C.— *»  Pm.  ^^,  M.  ^—"—74. 
3-3         i-i  3-3  2-2 

Taxidea  taxus  (SCHREBER). 
AMERICAN  BADGER. 

Ursus  taxus  SCHREBER,  Saugthiere,  III,  1778,  p.  520. 

Meles  Labradoria  LAPHAM,  Trans.  Wis.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  II,  1852  (1853),  p.  338 
(Wisconsin).  KENNICOTT,  Trans.  111.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  I,  1853-54  (1855),  p. 
578  (Cook  Co.,  Illinois). 

Taxidea  americana  KENNICOTT,  Agr.  Rept.  for  1858,  U.  S.  Patent  Office  Rept., 
1859,  p.  250  (Illinois).  THOMAS,  Trans.  111.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  IV,  1859-60  (1861), 
p.  655  (Illinois).  MILES,  Rept.  Geol.  Surv.  Mich.,  I,  1860  (1861),  p.  220  (Mich- 
igan). ALLEN,  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  XIII,  1869  (1871),  p.  183  (Iowa). 
HOY,  Trans.  Wis.  Acad.  Sci.-Arts  &  Lat.,  V,  1882,  p.  256  (Wisconsin).  BRAYTON, 
Rept.  Geol.  Surv.  Ohio,  IV,  Pt.  I,  1882,  p.  42  (Kankakee  Co.,  Illinois).  STRONG, 
Geol.  Wis.,  Surv.  1873-79,  I.  l883.  P-  437  (Wisconsin).  HERRICK,  Geol.  &  Nat. 
Hist.  Surv.  Minn.,  Bull.  No.  7,  1892,  p.  86  (Minnesota).  EVERMANN&  BUTLER, 
Proc.  Ind.  Acad.  Sci.,  1893  (J894),  p.  137  (Indiana).  SNYDER,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat. 
Hist.  Soc.,  II,  1902,  p.  122  (Wisconsin). 

Taxidea  taxus  ADAMS,  Rept.  State  Board  Geol.  Surv.  Mich.,  1905  (1906),  p.  130 
(Michigan).  JACKSON,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  VI,  1908,  p.  28  (Wisconsin). 
HOLLISTER,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  VI,  1908,  p.  141  (Wisconsin).  HAHN, 
Ann.  Rept.  Dept.  Geol.  &  Nat.  Resources  Ind.,  1908  (1909),  p.  577  (Indiana). 
WOOD,  Bull.  111.  State  Lab.  Nat.  Hist.,  VIII,  1910,  p.  574  (Illinois). 

Type    locality  —  Originally    given    as    Labrador    and     Hudson    Bay, 

although  the  species  is  not  known  to  occur  there. 
Distribution  —  From  northern   Indiana  west   to   the   Sierra   Nevada 

Mountains,  south  at  least  to  Kansas  and  New  Mexico,  north  in  the 

Saskatchewan  region  to  about  latitude  5  5° ;  replaced  in  the  South  and 

West  by  allied  forms. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        349 

Description  —  General  color  grizzly  gray;  head  brown,  with  a  patch  of 
white  below  and  behind  the  ears  and  a  white  stripe  on  middle  of 
crown  extending  from  the  nose  to  the  nape;  feet  and  greater  portion 
of  legs  brownish  black,  the  claws  pale,  large,  often  1.50  inches  in 
length;  chin  and  upper  throat  dull  white,  rest  of  under  parts  buffy 
white  or  yellowish  white ;  tail  tinged  with  yellowish  brown. 
Measurements  —  Length,  about  27  to  29  in.  (691  to  741  mm.);  tail 
vertebrae,  about  5  in.  (125  to  136  mm.);  hind  foot,  3.85  in.  (95  to 
105  mm.)- 

The  Badger  still  occurs  in  more  or  less  numbers  in  various  localities 
throughout  Wisconsin  and  occasionally  in  the  northern  two-thirds  of 
Illinois.  In  the  early  days  it  was  common.  Kennicott  (1854)  gives  it 
as  formerly  common  in  Cook  County  and  states  that  at  that  time  it  was 
still  common  farther  south  (1.  c.,  p.  578).  Brayton  (1882*)  mentions  a 
Badger  taken  in  Kankakee  County,  Illinois,  in  1857.  Wood  says:  "It 
is  reported  that  a  specimen  was  killed  a  few  miles  north  of  Urbana  in 
1908.  The  dead  animal  was  seen  by  reliable  persons,  but  I  have  been 
unable  to  verify  the  identification  by  seeing  the  skin"  (/.  c.,  p.  574). 
In  1909  it  was  reported  by  hunters  to  be  not  uncommon  in  Jo  Daviess 
and  Stephenson  counties,  Illinois.  Kennicott  says:  "In  Illinois  badgers 
were  once  numerous  at  least  as  far  south  as  the  middle  of  the  state; 
and  were  seen  thirty  years  ago  near  the  Kaskaskia  River.  They  still 
exist  in  De  Kalb  County"  (/.  c.,  1858,  p.  250). 

There  are  numerous  records  from  Wisconsin.  I  have  examined 
specimens  from  Rock  and  Dodge  counties  and  one  which  was  claimed 
to  have  been  killed  near  Lake  Geneva,  Walworth  Co.,  in  1902.  Dr. 
H.  V.  Ogden  of  Milwaukee  has  skulls  in  his  collection  from  Douglas 
and  Milton  counties.  Mr.  W.  E.  Snyder  has  five  specimens  in  his 
collection  taken  in  Dodge  County  between  1902  and  1908,  and  he 
informs  me  that  at  least  five  others  were  killed  in  Dodge  County  dur- 
ing the  summer  of  1902.  Hollister  records  it  from  Delavan,  Walworth 
Co.,  in  1908  (/.  c.,  p.  141);  and  Jackson  records  10  specimens  cap- 
tured within  a  radius  of  8  miles  of  Milton,  Rock  Co.,  from  1900  to 
1902  (/.  c.,  p.  28).  I  am  informed  by  reliable  persons  that  during  the 
past  five  years  (1906  to  1911)  one  or  more  specimens  have  been 
taken  in  Marinette,  Florence,  Forest,  Marathon,  Taylor,  Iron,  Douglas, 
Rusk,  Polk  and  Buffalo  counties. 

While  the  Badger  was  probably  common  in  portions  of  Illinois  and 
Wisconsin  in  early  days,  it  was  much  more  so  farther  west.  Dr. 
Elliott  Coues  writes:  "I  have  seen  Badgers  in  countless  numbers  nearly 
throughout  the  region  of  the  upper  Missouri  River  and  its  tributaries. 
I  do  not  see  how  they  could  well  be  more  numerous  anywhere.  In 


350    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        351 

some  favorite  stretches  of  sandy,  sterile  soil  their  burrows  are  every- 
where, together  with  those  of  Kit  Foxes,  Prairie  Dogs,  and  Spermophiles, 
and,  as  already  said,  these  holes  are  a  source  of  annoyance  and  even 
danger  to  the  traveler.  In  ordinary  journeying,  one  has  to  keep  con- 
stant lookout  lest  his  horse  suddenly  goes  down  under  him,  with  a 
fore  leg  deep  in  a  Badger  hole."* 


Map  illustrating  approximate  range  of  the  American  Badger,  Taxidea  taxus,  in  eastern  United 

States  and  Canada. 


Taxidea  taxus  (SCHREBER).  Type  locality  —  Northern  North  America;  originally 
given  as  Labrador  and  Hudson  Bay,  but  the  species  is  not  known  to  occur  there. 
Description  as  previously  given. 

Taxidea  t.  berlandieri  (BAIRD).  (Mammals  N.  Amer.,  1857,  p.  205.)  Type  locality 
—  Staked  plains  of  Texas  (Llano  estacado),  near  border  of  New  Mexico.  General 
coloration  less  gray  and  more  buffy;  white  line  on  back  longer,  occasionally 
extending  to  the  tail. 

*  Fur-bearing  Animals,  1877,  p.  281. 


352     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 

The  Badger  is  a  shy  animal,  largely  nocturnal  in  its  habits,  and  is 
rarely  seen  even  in  localities  where  it  is  common.  It  is  clumsy  and  slow 
in  its  movements  and  subsists  largely  upon  ground  Rodents,  such  as 
Prairie  Squirrels,  Mice,  etc.,  which  it  digs  out  with  little  difficulty, 
although  it  also  eats  insects,  snails,  honey,  young  birds  and  eggs.  Its 
home  is  a  burrow  in  the  ground  in  dry  and  preferably  sandy  soil.  Kenni- 
cott  says  its  underground  habitation  is  sometimes  6  feet  deep  and  30 
feet  in  length,  but  he  found  others  only  2  feet  below  the  surface  and  but 
6  feet  in  length  (1.  c.,  p.  251).  All  authorities  agree  that  the  Badger 
hibernates  in  cold  weather,  at  least  in  the  northern  part  of  its  range; 
but  the  length  of  its  winter  sleep  apparently  depends  largely  upon  the 
temperature.  The  young  are  usually  born  in  May  and  number  from 
2  to  5. 

Badgers  are  provided  with  anal  glands  secreting  a  noxious  smelling 
fluid,  but  our  species  cannot  forceably  eject  it  like  the  Skunks.  The 
skins  of  Badgers  make  very  good  fur  and  are  much  used  for  robes,  as 
well  as  muffs  and  tippets  of  the  cheaper  grade.  The  hair  is  also  used  in 
the  manufacture  of  shaving  brushes  and  artists'  materials. 

Specimens  examined  from  Illinois  and  Wisconsin: 
Wisconsin— (M.  P.  M.)  Milton,  Rock  Co.,  i;   (O.  C.)    Douglas  Co. 

(skull),  i;  Milton,  Rock  Co.  (skull),  i;  (S.  C.)  Dodge  Co.,  5;  (O.) 

Wai  worth  Co.,  1  =  9. 


Subfamily  MUSTELINE.      Wolverine,  Martens, 
Minks,  Weasels,  etc. 

Genus  GULO  Storr. 

Gulo  Storr,  Prodr.  Meth.  Mamm.,  1780,  p.  34.  Type  Mustela  gulo  Linn. 
Body  stout;  hair  thick  and  long;  claws  large  and  curved;  tail  short 
and  bushy;  ears  short;  rostrum  short;  zygomata  broadly  expanded; 
bullae  laterally  elongated,  forming  a  tubular  auditory  meatus;  upper 
molar  extending  inward  at  right  angle  with  the  carnassial;  last  lower 
molar  small;  feet  semi-plantigrade. 

Dental  formula:  I.  ^,  C.^>  Pm.  4-4,  M.  ^=34. 
3-3        i-i  4-4          2-2 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        353 

Gulo  luscus  (LINN.). 
WOLVERINE.     CARCAJOU.     GLUTTON. 

[C/r$tts]  luscus  LINNAEUS,  Syst.  Nat.,  X  ed.,  I,  1758,  p.  47. 

Gulo  luscus  LAPHAM,  Trans.  Wis.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  II,  1852  (1853),  p.  338.  KENNI- 
COTT,  Agr.  Rept.  for  1858,  U.  S.  Patent  Office  Rept.,  1859,  p.  245  (Wisconsin). 
MILES,  Rept.  Geol.  Surv.  Mich.,  1860  (1861),  p.  220  (Michigan).  OSBORN, 
Proc.  Iowa  Acad.  Sci.,  I,  1887-89  (1890),  p.  42  (Iowa).  HOY,  Trans.  Wis.  Acad. 
Sci.,  Arts  &  Letters,  V,  1882,  p.  256  (Wisconsin).  STRONG,  Geol.  Wis.,  Surv. 
1873-79,  I,  1883,  p.  43  (Wisconsin).  ADAMS,  Rept.  State  Board  Geol.  Surv. 
Mich.,  1905  (1906),  p.  131  (Michigan).  HOLLISTER,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc., 
VI,  1908,  p.  141  (Wisconsin).  HAHN,  Ann.  Rept.  Dept.  Geol.  &  Nat.  Resources 
Ind.,  1908  (1909),  p.  579  (Indiana). 

Gulo  Luscus  THOMAS,  Trans.  111.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  IV,  1859-60  (i86i),p.  655  (Illi- 
nois). 

Gulo  borealis  HERRICK,  Geol.  &  Nat.  Hist.  Surv.  Minn.,  Bull.  No.  7,  1892,  p.  99 
(Minnesota). 

Type  locality  —  Hudson  Bay 

Distribution  —  Practically    the    whole    of    northern    North    America, 

south  in  the  eastern  portion  of  its  range  to  about  latitude  45°  and 

formerly  to  the  mountains  in  Pennsylvania. 
Description  —  Largest  of  the  family;  general  color  dark  brown,  grayish 

on  cheeks  and  crown;  a  broad  pale  stripe  extends  from  the  shoulder 

along  the  sides  of  the  body  to  the  tail;  rump  paler  than  the  back, 

sometimes  brownish  white ;  throat  and  breast  with  irregular  markings 

of  yellowish  white ;  claws  pale ;  sexes  similar. 
Measurements  —  Total  length,  about   36  to  38  in.    (940  mm.);  tail 

vertebrae,  about  6.50  to  7.50  in.  (170  mm.);  hind  foot,  about  7  in. 

(178  mm.). 

There  is  no  reason  to  question  the  occurrence  of  the  Wolverine  in 
Wisconsin  in  early  days,  especially  as  it  is  claimed  that  straggling 
individuals  have  been  taken  in  Indiana,  one  of  them  as  far  south  as 
Knox  County  (Hahn,  /.  c.,  p.  580).  Dr.  P.  R.  Hoy  says,  "Wolverines, 
Gulo  luscus,  are  occasionally  taken  in  the  timber;  one  was  taken  in  La 
Crosse  County,  in  1870"  (/.  c.,  p.  256).  Strong  (1883)  writes,  "Occurs 
rarely  in  northern  Wisconsin"  (/.  c.,  p.  437).  Adams  in  his  notes  on  the 
mammals  of  Ontonagon  County,  Michigan  Peninsula,  says:  "At 
Rockland  five  were  bought  by  his  brother,  J.  M.  Haring,  between  1865 
and  1875.  This  is  the  only  Michigan  (?)  locality  known  to  the  writer. 
Of  course,  the  animals  may  not  have  been  killed  near  Rockland,  but 
may  have  come  from  a  distance"  (/.  c.,  p.  131).  Old  trappers  living  in 
the  vicinity  of  Champion,  Michigan,  claim  that  Wolverines  were  occa- 
sionally killed  in  that  locality,  30  or  35  years  ago. 


354    FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        355 

Mr.  Edward  G.  Kingsford  of  Iron  Mountain,  Michigan,  a  gentleman 
who  is  perfectly  familiar  with  this  animal,  writes  me  as  follows:  "From 
1880  until  1900  I  was  in  the  woods  of  northern  Wisconsin,  Michigan 
and  Minnesota  nearly  all  the  time,  both  summer  and  winter.  I  have 
never  heard  of  a  Wolverine  being  killed  nearer  here  than  the  Rainey 
Lake  District  of  Minnesota  and  have  never  seen  the  tracks  of  one  here. 
About  1895  to  1897  they  were  quite  plentiful  in  northern  Minnesota. 
Trappers  complained  of  their  depredations  the  same  as  they  did  here  in 
the  early  days,  so  it  is  quite  probable  that  they  may  have  been  killed 
not  many  years  ago  in  the  northwestern  part  of  Wisconsin,  as  they  are 
great  travellers." 

The  Milwaukee  Public  Museum  collection  contains  two  mounted 
specimens  which  may  or  may  not  have  been  actually  taken  in  the  state, 
as  they  are  labeled  "Wisconsin,"  without  date  or  locality. 

From  its  earliest  mention  by  writers  in  the  i6th  century,  the  Wolver- 
ine or  Glutton,  as  it  was  called,  has  been  the  subject  of  the  most  extra- 
ordinary tales  and  superstitions.  Fabulous  stories  were  told  of  its 
ferocity,  strength  and  sagacity,  which  each  succeeding  writer  gravely 
repeated,  usually  adding  something  equally  extravagant  on  his  own 
account.  Olaus  Magnus  (1562)  was  responsible  for  one  of  the  most 
ridiculous  fables  which  seems  to  have  been  accepted  without  comment 
and  apparently  endorsed  by  various  writers  for  two  hundred  years. 
According  to  his  account,  the  Glutton,  after  feasting  upon  the  carcass  of 
a  large  animal  until  its  belly  was  swollen  to  such  an  extent  it  could  hold 
no  more,  obtained  relief  by  squeezing  itself  between  two  trees  in  order 
that  it  might  return  to  glut  itself  anew.*  Topsell  considered  this 
absurd  story  worthy  of  pictorial  illustration  and  not  to  be  outdone  by 
his  predecessors,  gravely  informs  us  that  when  the  beast  can  find  no 
trees  growing  sufficiently  near  together  to  accomplish  his  purpose, 
"then  taketh  he  an  Alder-tree  and  with  his  fore-feete  rendeth  the  same 
asunder,  and  passeth  through  the  middest  of  it  for  the  cause  aforesaid."! 
Other  writers  allowed  their  imagination  free  play  in  commenting  upon 
its  wonderful  sagacity.  I  quote  from  Dr.  Elliott  Coues's  charmingly 
written  history  of  this  animal.  He  says:  "Still  in  the  track  of  the 
marvellous,  we  read  how  the  Glutton,  too  clumsy  and  tardy  of  foot  to 
overtake  large  Ruminants,  betakes  itself  to  the  trees  beneath  which 
they  may  pass,  and  there  crouches  in  wait  for  its  victim;  it  drops  like 

*"Hoc  animal  voracissimum  est,  reperto  namique  cadavere  tantum  vorat  ut 
violento  cibo  corpus  instar  tympani  extendatur:  inventaque  angustia  inter  arbores  se 
stringit  ut  violentius  egerat:  sicque  extenuatum  revertitur  ad  cadaver  et  ad  sumrnum 
usque  repletur,  iterumque  se  strigit  angustia  priore."  (Olaus  Magnus,  Historia  de 
Gentibus  Septentrionalibus,  1652,  p.  138.) 

t  Historic  of  Foure  Footed  Beastes,  London,  1607,  p.  262. 


356     FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

a  shot  upon  the  unsuspecting  Elk,  Moose,  Reindeer,  and  fastening  with 
claws  and  teeth,  sucks  the  blood  and  destroys  them  as  they  run.  That 
nothing  may  be  left  undone  to  ensure  success,  the  animal  has  the  wit  to 
throw  down  moss  or  lichens  to  attract  its  prey,  and  to  employ  the 
friendly  services  of  Foxes  to  drive  the  quarry  beneath  the  fatal  spot. 
I  allude  to  these  things,  not  that  such  gross  exaggerations  longer  require 
refutation,  but  because  they  are  a  part,  and  no  inconsiderable  one,  of 
the  history  of  the  species;  and  because,  as  we  shall  see  in  the  sequel,  a 
perfectly  temperate  and  truthful  narration  of  the  creature's  actual 
habits,  sufficiently  attest  the  possession  of  really  remarkable  qualities, 
which  need  be  but  caricatured  for  transformation  into  just  such  fables."* 

To  still  further  enhance  this  animal's  reputation  for  eccentricity 
Linnaeus  bestowed  upon  it  the  name  luscus,  which  might  not  unreason- 
ably be  supposed  to  imply  that  it  was  a  kind  of  quadruped  Cyclops. f 

There  is  no  doubt  that  the  Wolverine  is  an  unusually  strong,  savage 
and  sagacious  animal,  as  has  time  and  again  unquestionably  been 
proved.  In  localities  where  they  are  common,  hunters  find  difficulty 
in  making  a  "cache"  of  supplies  which  cannot  be  found  and  destroyed 
by  these  animals.  Dr.  Coues  cites  a  case  where  a  Wolverine  has  been 
known  to  gnaw  through  a  log  nearly  a  foot  in  diameter  and  also  to  dig 
a  hole  several  feet  deep  in  frozen  ground  to  gain  access  to  the  coveted 
supply.  The  same  author  also  says:  "To  the  trapper,  the  Wolverines 
are  equally  annoying.  When  they  have  discovered  a  line  of  Marten 
traps,  they  will  never  abandon  the  road,  and  must  be  killed  before  the 
trapping  can  be  successfully  carried  on.  Beginning  at  one  end  they 
proceed  from  trap  to  trap  along  the  whole  line,  pulling  them  successively 
to  pieces,  and  taking  out  the  baits  from  behind.  When  they  can  eat 
no  more,  they  continue  to  steal  the  baits  and  cache  them.  If  hungry, 
they  may  devour  two  or  three  of  the  Martens  they  find  captured,  the 
remainder  being  carried  off  and  hidden  in  the  snow  at  a  considerable 
distance.  The  work  of  demolition  goes  on  as  fast  as  the  traps  can  be 
renewed." 

"The  propensity  to  steal  and  hide  things  is  one  of  the  strongest 
traits  of  the  Wolverine.  To  such  an  extent  is  it  developed  that  the 
animal  will  often  secrete  articles  of  no  possible  use  to  itself.  Besides 
the  wanton  destruction  of  Marten  traps,  it  will  carry  off  the  sticks  and 
hide  them  at  a  distance,  apparently  in  sheer  malice."  (1.  c.,  p.  51.) 

Ross  says:  "The  desire  for  accumulating  property  seems  so  deeply 

*  Fur-bearing  Animals,  1877,  p.  44. 

t  It  is  far  from  probable  that  the  great  naturalist  intended  to  convey  any  such 
meaning,  although  we  have  a  similar  misnomer  in  that  of  the  Great  Bird  of  Paradise 
(P.  apoda)  described  by  the  same  author  and  so  named  for  the  reason  that  the  first 
skins  of  the  species  received  in  Europe  lacked  feet. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.       357 

implanted  in  these  animals  that,  like  tame  ravens,  it  does  not  appear 
to  care  much  what  it  steals  so  that  it  can  exercise  its  favorite  propensity 
to  commit  mischief.  An  instance  occurred  within  my  own  knowledge 
in  which  a  hunter  and  his  family  having  left  their  lodge  unguarded 
during  their  absence,  on  their  return  found  it  completely  gutted — the 
walls  were  there  but  nothing  else.  Blankets,  guns,  kettles,  axes,  cans, 
knives  and  all  other  paraphernalia  of  a  trapper's  tent  had  vanished,  and 
the  tracks  left  by  the  beast  showed  who  had  been  the  thief.  The  family 
set  to  work,  and  by  carefully  following  up  his  paths,  recovered,  with  some 
trifling  exceptions,  the  whole  of  the  lost  property."* 

It  has  generally  been  supposed  by  modern  naturalists  that  Wolver- 
ines do  not  attack  and  kill  large  mammals,  such  as  the  Moose  and  Elk, 
although  they  eat  them  when  they  find  them  dead,  but  according  to 
Mr.  J.  Keele  of  the  Canadian  Geological  Survey  this  is  not  always  the 
case.  On  March  27,  1908,  on  Third  Lake,  Ross  River  (an  affluent  of 
the  Pelly),  he  saw  a  Moose  floundering  in  deep  snow  and  he  and  his 
companion  shot  it  and  found  that  it  had  already  been  nearly  killed  by 
a  Wolverine  that  had  leaped  on  its  back  from  a  tree.f 


Map  illustrating  the  supposed  range  of  the  Wolverine,  (Gulo  luscus)  up  to  the  latter  part  of  the  last 
century  (about  1870  to  1880).  It  is  very  doubtful  that  the  species  occurs  at  the  present  time  in 
northern  Wisconsin  or  Michigan. 


*  Canadian  Nat.  and  Geol.,  VI,  1861,  p.  30. 
t  Forest  and  Stream,  Dec.  19,  1908,  p.  971. 


358    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

Wolverines  do  not  hibernate  but  wander  about  in  the  snow  in  the 
coldest  weather.  Audubon  and  Bachman  tracked  one  for  five  miles 
over  snow-covered  hills  in  northern  New  York.*  Mr.  Edward  G. 
Kingsford  of  Iron  Mountain,  Michigan,  who  met  with  this  species  a 
number  of  times  in  Minnesota,  writes: 

"I  remember  chasing  one  on  snow  shoes  in  Minnesota  about  fifteen 
miles,  thinking  that  I  might  catch  him  as  the  snow  was  soft  and  his  short 
legs  seemed  to  go  in  full  length,  but  he  was  going  when  I  quit." 

According  to  various  writers  the  Wolverine  makes  its  den  in  a  hollow 
in  the  ground  or  a  natural  cave  under  rocks.  The  young  are  born  in 
May  or  June  and  usually  number  from  2  to  4,  although,  according  to 
MacFarlane,  5  are  occasionally  found  in  a  litter.f 

This  species  possesses  anal  glands  secreting  a  rather  thick  yellowish 
brown  fluid.  The  odor  is  extremely  noxious,  but  the  fluid  cannot  be 
forcibly  ejected  to  a  distance. 


Genus  PUTORIUS  |  Cuvier. 

Putorius  Cuvier,  Regne  Animal,  I,  1817,  p.  147.     Type  Mustela  putorius 

Linn. 

Body  long;  tail  close-haired  or  bushy;  legs  short;  carnassial  tooth  in 
lower  jaw  without  internal  cusp ;  rostrum  short ;  bullae  flattened.  Differs 
in  dentition  from  genus  Mustela  by  having  one  less  premolar  on  each  side 
of  upper  and  lower  jaw. 

Dental  formula:  I.  ^>  C.  — ,  Pm.  ^,  M.  ~=34- 

3-3  I-I  3-3  2-2 

Two  subgenera,  which  may  be  characterized  as  follows,  are  repre- 
sented within  our  limits: 

A.  Total  length  generally  more  than  19.50  inches  (size  variable);  color  brown  all 

over,  including  under  parts,  except  a  white  spot  on  chin  and  usually  another  on 
the  breast;  soles  of  feet  mostly  bare;  does  not  turn  white  in  winter. 

Subgenus  LUTREOLA,  MINKS,  p.  361. 

B.  Total  length  less  than  19.50  inches;  color  brown  above,  white  or  yellowish  white 

below;  soles  of  feet  mostly  covered  with  hair;  turns  white  in  winter  in  this 
latitude.  Subgenus  ICTIS,  WEASELS,  p.  366. 

*  Quadrupeds  of  N.  Amer.,  I,  1846,  p.  207. 

t  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  XXVIII,  1905,  p.  708. 

t  According  to  Thomas  (Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  Lond.,  1911,  p.  139)  the  name  Putorius, 
commonly  used  for  this  genus,  must  be  changed  to  Mustela;  and  the  name  Mustela, 
at  present  used  for  the  Martens,  must  give  place  to  Maries. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        359 


KEY  TO  OUR  SPECIES. 

GROUP  1.  Color  brown  all  over,  except  usually  a  white  spot  on  chin  and  sometimes 
another  on  breast;  belly  not  white  or  yellowish  white;  animal  does  not  turn 
white  in  winter. 

Belly  brown;  tail  bushy,  darker  than  the  back  and  blackish  at  the  end;  total 
length  of  males  more  than  19  inches;  females  smaller. 

MINK.     Putorius  vison  lutreocephalus,  p.  361. 

GROUP  2.  Color  (in  summer)  brown  above,  most  of  under  parts  (including  belly) 
white,  yellowish  white  or  yellowish  buff;  animal  turns  white  in  winter  in  this 
latitude. 

SECTION  1.  Total  length  of  males  usually  more  than  13  inches  and  of  females 

usually  more  than  1 1  inches. 

Tail  about  >£  or  more  of  total  length,  black  tip  of  tail  long,  its  beginning  not 
sharply  denned;  toes  and  feet  generally  without  white;  usually  a  brown 
spot  back  of  the  angle  of  the  mouth;  under  parts  white,  often  more  or 
less  tinged  with  lemon  yellow.  (In  winter)*  White  all  over  (except 
black  end  of  tail),  more  or  less  tinged  with  lemon  yellow,  most  pro- 
nounced about  rump,  hind  legs  and  tail. 

NEW  YORK  WEASEL.     Putorius  noveboracensis,  p.  366. 

Black  tip  of  tail  short  and  abruptly  denned;  toes  and  feet  with  more  or  less 
white ;  under  parts  washed  with  ochraceous  buff  or  deep  saffron  yellow. 
(In  winter)  White  all  over  (except  black  tip  of  tail),  without  yellow 
tinge  except  at  times  on  tail.  MINNESOTA  LONG-TAILED  WEASEL. 

Putorius  longicauda  spadix,  p.  374. 

SECTION  2.  Total  length  of  males  less  than  13  inches  and  of  females  less  than 

ii  inches. 

Male  usually  more  than  8.50  inches  long  and  female  more  than  7.50  inches 
long;  tail  generally  nearer  }/±  than  %  of  the  total  length.  (In  summer) 
Toes  and  generally  inner  sides,  of  hind  feet  usually  with  tinge  of  yellow. 
(In  winter)  White  all  over,  more  or  less  washed  with  pale  yellow  most 
pronounced  on  rump,  hind  feet  and  tail;  end  of  tail  always  black. 

BONAPARTE'S  WEASEL.     Putorius  ci^ognanii,  p.  375. 

Males  less  than  8.25  inches  long;  females  less  than  7.50  inches.  (In  summer) 
Brown  above;  under  parts  white  or  whitish;  end  of  tail  without  black  tip. 
(In  winter)  Pelage  entirely  white;  tail  without  black  tip  except  occasionally 
with  a  few  blackish  hairs  at  extreme  end. 

ALLEGHENIAN  LEAST  WEASEL. 
Putorius  rixosus  allegheniensis,  p.  378. 

*  Refers  to  specimens  from  Wisconsin  and  northern  Illinois.     In  the  southern : 
part  of  its  range  it  does  not  turn  white  in  winter.  . 


360     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 


Skull  of  Mink  (Putorius  vison). 

(About  natural  size.) 
From  Elliot's  Synopsis  Mammals  N.  Amer. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        361 

Subgenus  LUTREOLA  Wagner. 

Color  nearly  uniform  all  over;  tail  bushy;  cusps  of  molars  and 
premolars  well  developed;  sectorial  tooth  of  upper  jaw  with  well- 
developed  anterio-exterior  cusp ;  frontal  outline  nearly  straight,  in  adult 
developing  sagittal  crest;  Palmer  pads  largely  bare;  toes  partly  webbed.* 

Putorius  vison  lutreocephalus  (HARLAN). 
MINK.     HARLAN'S  MINK. 

Mustela  lutreocephalus  HARLAN,  Fauna  Americana,  1825,  p.  63. 

Putorius  vison  LAPHAM,  Trans.  Wis.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  II,  1852  (1853),  p.  338  (Wis- 
consin). KENNICOTT,  Trans.  111.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  1853-54  (1855),  p.  578  (Cook 
Co.  Illinois).  Ib.,  Agr.  Kept,  for  1857,  U.  S.  Patent  Office  Rept.,  1858,  p.  101. 
MILES,  Rept.  Geol.  Surv.  Mich.,  I,  1860  (1861),  p.  220  (Michigan).  STRONG, 
Geol.  Wis.,  Surv.  1873-79, 1.  1883,  p.  437  (Wisconsin).  HERRICK,  Geol.  &  Nat. 
Hist.  Surv.  Minn.,  Bull.  No.  7,  1892,  p.  118  (Minnesota).  EVERMANN& BUTLER, 
Proc.  Ind.  Acad.  Sci.,  1893  (1894),  p.  137  (Indiana). 

Lutreola  vison  RHOADS,  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  1896  (1897),  p.  198  (Tennessee). 
SNYDER,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  II,  1902,  p.  125  (Wisconsin). 

Lutreola  vison  lutreocephalus  HAHN,  Ann.  Rept.  Dept.  Geol.  &  Nat.  Resources  Ind., 
1908  (1909),  p.  581  (Indiana). 

Putorius  lutreolus  ALLEN,  Proc,  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  XIII,  1869  (1871),  p.  183 
(Iowa). 

Type  locality  —  Maryland. 

Distribution  —  Greater  portion  of  North  America,  north  to  about 
latitude  52°,  except  in  the  Southeastern  states  from  Tennessee  and 
North  Carolina  southward  where  it  is  replaced  by  P.  v.  vulgivagus; 
and  somewhere  north  of  Pennsylvania  and  east  of  the  Great  Lakes 
where  it  intergrades  with  P.  vison.  The  limits  of  its  northeastern 
range  have  not  been  definitely  determined. 

Description  —  General  color  nearly  uniform  umber  brown;  dorsal  area 
usually  darker  than  the  sides ;  tail  dark  brown  or  blackish  brown ;  chin 
white  and  usually  an  irregular  white  spot  on  chest;  rest  of  under 
parts  brown  occasionally  with  one  or  more  irregular  white  patches 
on  belly.  Individual  specimens  vary  greatly  in  size  and  the  females 
are  decidedly  smaller  than  the  males,  but  may  always  be  distin- 
guished from  Weasels  by  the  brown  belly  and  more  bushy  tail. 

Measurements  —  Total  length  (male),  generally  from  23.50  to  25  in. 
(500  to  627  mm.);  tail  vertebrae,  7  to  8.25  in.  (178  to  209  mm.); 
hind  foot,  2.50  to  2.75  in.  (63  to  70  mm.). 

*  Considered  a  full  genus  by  some  authorities. 


362     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  or  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.       363 

The  Mink  is  a  common  species  in  many  localities  throughout 
Illinois  and  Wisconsin.  It  is  a  semi-aquatic  animal,  being  rarely  found 
far  from  water,  and  is  an  expert  swimmer  and  diver.  Its  food  consists 
largely  of  fish  which  it  pursues  and  catches  with  almost  the  facility  of 
the  Otter;  in  fact  Linnaeus  applied  the  name  Lutreola  (Little  Otter)  to 
the  Old  World  form.  For  piscatorial  destructiveness  our  species  is  at 
least  the  peer  of  its  European  cousin,  as  is  shown  by  the  statement  of 
Audubon  and  Bachman,  who  claim  it  has  been  known  to  catch  a  trout 
a  foot  long.*  Notwithstanding  its  fondness  for  water,  however,  it  is 
equally  at  home  on  land  and,  while  a  large  portion  of  its  food  consists 
of  aquatic  animals,  such  as  fish,  frogs  and  crayfish,  it  preys  upon  many 
land  animals  as  well,  and  it  destroys  quantities  of  Rabbits,  Rats,  Musk- 
rats,  Mice,  etc.,  as  well  as  birds  when  it  can  catch  them.  Like  the 
Weasel  the  Mink  appears  to  have  an  especial  antipathy  to  Rats.  Dr. 
C.  Hart  Merriam  saysrf  "When  taken  sufficiently  young  he  is  easily 
domesticated,  and  makes  one  of  the  best  of  'ratters.'  He  follows  these 
common  pests  into  their  holes,  and  destroys  large  numbers  of  them. 
The  remainder  are  so  terrified  that  they  leave  the  premises  in  great 
haste  and  are  not  apt  soon  to  return." 

Writing  of  the  habits  of  the  Mink  in  Illinois,  Kennicott  says:  "Near 
the  prairies  of  this  State,  the  mink  sometimes  takes  possession  of  the 
house  of  a  musk-rat,  after  devouring  or  driving  off  the  rightful  inhab- 
itants. It  appears  to  be  quite  as  abundant  and  as  much  at  home 
about  prairie  ponds  and  streams  as  in  the  woods.  It  digs  burrows  on 
the  dry  ground  near  the  water,  frequently  in  old  ant-hills,  some  of  which 
were  penetrated  to  a  depth  of  two  or  three  feet,  and  a  foot  or  two  below 
the  surface  of  the  ground.  At  the  extremity  of  the  burrow  is  a  chamber 
a  foot  in  diameter,  in  which  is  found  a  globular  nest  of  soft  grass,  lined 
with  feathers,  constructed  with  considerable  art,  and  entered  by  an 
opening  on  one  side.  In  the  northern  part  of  this  State,  where  the 
climate  is  more  severe,  the  burrows  are  deeper,  being  sometimes  eight 
or  ten  feet  in  extent,  with  the  nest  two  feet  below  the  surface.  On  the 
prairie,  minks  are  also  found  living  in  burrows,  often  six  or  eight  rods 
in  length,  on  high  ground,  from  which  long  galleries  extend  to  the  edge 
of  a  slough  or  pond.  These  galleries,  however,  are  not  formed  by  the 
minks,  but  by  musk-rats  which  dig  them  in  order  to  place  their  nests 
beyond  the  reach  of  high  water,  and  yet  have  subterranean  communica- 
tion with  the  stream.  Though  they  frequently  take  possession  of  the 
burrows  of  the  musk-rat,  and  sometimes  those  of  the  badger  and  skunk, 
when  situated  in  suitable  localities,  they  also  excavate  them  for  them- 

*  Quadrupeds  of  N.  Amer.,  I,  1846,  p.  255. 
tMamm.  Adirondack  Reg.,  1886,  p.  67. 


364    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

selves,  but  of  much  less  diameter.  In  the  woods,  the  burrows  are 
generally  found  under  logs  or  the  roots  of  trees  near  the  water,  and  in 
rocky  regions  they  burrow  under  rocks  or  stone  walls;  and  I  have 
occasionally  discovered  them  living  in  the  hollow  of  a  fallen  tree,  or  in 
the  decayed  roots  of  large  trees  growing  in  the  water. 

"The  mink  is  not  at  all  gregarious,  and  does  not  even  live  in  pairs. 
During  the  love-season,  which  occurs  in  February  or  March,  according 
to  the  climate,  the  female  is  accompanied  by  one  or  more  males;  but 
after  this,  each  lives  alone,  the  males  apparently  wandering  about  the 
remainder  of  the  year.  The  young  are  brought  forth  in  April  or  May, 
usually  to  a  number  of  five  or  six,  though  sometimes  there  are  as  few 
as  three.  They  separate  from  the  mother  as  soon  as  they  are  able  to 
take  care  of  themselves,  and  before  winter  each  provides  itself  a  res- 
idence. The  female  exhibits  considerable  affection  for  her  young,  and 
when  in  danger  does  not  willingly  desert  them.  She  carries  prey  to 
them  for  a  time  before  they  leave  the  burrow,  as  the  remains  of  birds 
and  mammals  are  often  found  in  the  nest.  The  adults,  however,  have 
the  habit  of  conveying  their  prey  to  their  retreats  at  all  times. 

"The  mink  is  strictly  carnivorous,  and  never,  to  my  knowledge, 
eats  vegetables.  Besides  birds  and  mammals,  it  feeds  upon  fish  and 
aquatic  reptiles,  but  probably  does  not  subsist  upon  insects  to  much 
extent.  Though  not  so  expert  as  the  otter,  it  frequently  succeeds  in 
catching  fish  in  shallow  water.  In  the  prairie  sloughs  it  devours  at 
times  considerable  quantities  of  cray-fish,  tadpoles,  and  frogs;  and 
when  the  smaller  of  these  places  become  nearly  dry  from  evaporation, 
and  are  quite  alive  with  tadpoles,  and  occasionally  with  mud-fish  and 
stickle-backs,  in  common  with  the  musk-rat,  the  raccoon,  and  reptile- 
eating  birds,  it  clears  these  muddy  pools  entirely  of  their  unfortunate 
inhabitants,  which  have  no  way  of  escape.  The  mink,  however,  does 
not  always  confine  itself  to  this  kind  of  prey;  for  when  once  it  has  gained 
access  to  the  farmyard,  stocked  with  young  turkeys,  chickens,  and 
ducks,  it  far  prefers  taking  up  its  residence  near  by,  where,  without  the 
exertion  of  long  journeys  and  hard  chases,  it  can  make  a  nocturnal  feast 
of  its  favorite  food — blood  and  brains.  Though  destructive,  it  is  not 
usually  so  much  so  in  the  poultry -yard  as  the  weasel  or  skunk ;  for  often, 
at  least,  if  not  generally,  it  exhibits  much  moderation,  comparatively, 
contenting  itself  with  a  single  fowl  each  night.  In  pursuing  its  prey,  it 
follows  the  track  by  scent,  like  a  dog,  as  may  frequently  be  seen  in  the 
snow  where  it  is  chasing  a  grey  rabbit  or  a  covey  of  grouse  or  quails, 
which,  as  well  as  many  water-birds,  with  their  eggs  and  young,  it 
destroys.  It  also  steals  upon  its  prey,  and  seizes  it  by  a  spring,  like  a 
cat."  (I.  c.,  1858,  pp.  102-103.) 


FEB.,  1912      MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        365 


Supposed  distribution  of  the  Minks  (subgenus  Lutreola)  in  eastern  United  States  and  Canada. 
The  range  limits  of  the  various  forms  have  not  as  yet  been  satisfactorily  determined. 

Putorius  vison  (ScHREBER).  (Saugthiere,  III,  1777,  p.  463.)  Type  locality  — 
Eastern  Canada.  A  small,  dark  form. 

Putorius  v.  lutreocephalus  (HARLAN).  Type  locality  —  Maryland.  Larger  and 
not  so  dark  as  vison.  Description  as  previously  given. 

Putorius  v.  vulgivagus  (BANGS).  (Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  XXVII,  1895,  p.  536.) 
Type  locality  —  Burbridge,  Plaquemines  Parish,  Louisiana.  Somewhat  paler 
than  vison;  skull  arched  and  rounded. 

Putorius  v.  lacustris  (PREBLE).  (N.  Amer.  Fauna,  No.  22,  1902,  p.  66.)  Type 
locality  —  Echemamish  River,  near  Painted  Stone,  Keewatin,  Canada.  "Sim- 
ilar to  P.  vison  but  larger;  skull  more  angular"  (Preble);  very  close  to  lutreo- 
cephalus. 

Putorius  lutensis  BANGS.  (Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  XXIX,  1898,  p.  229.) 
Type  locality  —  Matanzas  Inlet,  St.  John  Co.,  Florida.  Size  smaller  than 
lutreocephalus;  tail  shorter;  general  color  decidedly  paler  and  less  brown. 


366    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

While  the  Mink  cannot  eject  the  odorous  secretion  of  its  anal 
glands  to  a  distance,  as  does  the  Skunk,  the  liquid  is  equally  offensive. 
Dr.  Elliott  Coues  says:*  "The  peculiar  odor  which  the  animals  of  this 
genus  have  in  common  attains  in  this  large  and  vigorous  species  a 
surpassing  degree  of  fetor,  though  of  the  same  quality.  No  animal  in 
this  country,  except  the  Skunk,  possesses  so  powerful,  penetrating  and 
lasting  an  effluvium.  Its  strength  is  fully  perceived  in  taking  the  animal 
from  a  trap,  or  when  the  Mink  is  otherwise  irritated.  Ordinarily  the 
scent  is  not  emitted  to  any  noticeable  degree;  it  is  under  voluntary 
control,  and  the  fact  that  the  Mink  spends  most  of  its  time  in  the  water 
is  another  reason  why  its  proximity,  even  in  numbers,  is  not  commonly 
perceived  by  smell.  Both  sexes  possess  the  scent  bags;  they  lie  in  the 
perinaeum,  one  on  each  side  of  the  rectum,  and  open  upon  a  papilla  on 
either  side  of  the  anus,  just  within  the  edge  of  the  external  orifice." 

Unlike  the  Weasels,  the  Mink  does  not  turn  white  in  winter. 

Specimens  examined  from  Illinois,  Wisconsin  and  adjoining  states: 
Illinois  —  Warsaw,  i ;  Deerfield,  Lake  Co.,  1  —  2. 
Indiana  —  Evansville,  i. 
Michigan  —  Park  Siding,  i . 
Wisconsin  —  (M.   P.   M.)   Wauwatosa,   Milwaukee  Co.,    2;   Glidden, 

Ashland  Co.,  i;  Rock  Co.,  i;  (O.  C.,  skulls  only)  St.  Croix  River, 

Douglas  Co.,  2;  Mercer,  Iron  Co.,  2;  Langlade  Co.,  4;  Turtle  Lake, 

Barron  Co.,  5;  Pewaukee,  Waukesha  Co.,  u;  Colfax,  Dunn  Co.,  8; 

Fisher  Lake,  Iron  Co.,  1  =  37. 

Subgenus  ICTIS  Kaup. 

Body  long,  slender  and  close  haired;  upper  parts  darker  than  under 
parts  (in  summer) ;  soles  of  feet  largely  covered  with  fur. 

Putorius  noveboracensis  EMMONS. 
NEW  YORK  WEASEL.     ERMINE. 

Putorius  noveboracensis  EMMONS,  Rept.  Quadr.  Mass.,  1840,  p.  45.  KENNICOTT, 
Trans.  111.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  I,  1853-54  (1855),  p.  578  (Cook  Co.,  Illinois).  Ib., 
Agr.  Rept.  for  1857,  U.  S.  Patent  Office  Rept.,  1858,  p.  104  (Illinois).  MILES, 
Rept.  Geol.  Surv.  Mich.,  I,  1860  (1861),  p.  220  (Michigan).  STRONG,  Geol. 
Wis.,  Surv.  1873-79,  I.  1883,  p.  436  (Wisconsin).  MERRIAM,  N.  Amer.  Fauna, 
No.  ii,  1896,  p.  7.  RHOADS,  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  1896  (1897),  p.  198 
(Tennessee).  SNYDER,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  II,  1902,  p.  125  (Wisconsin). 
JACKSON,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  VI,  1908,  p.  29  (Wisconsin).  HAHN,  Ann. 
Rept.  Dept.  Geol.  &  Nat.  Resources  Ind.,  1908  (1909),  p.  585  (Indiana). 
HOWELL,  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XXII,  1909,  p.  65  (Tennessee).  Ib.,  XXIII, 
1910,  p.  32  (Illinois,  Kentucky). 

Putorius  erminea  EVERMANN  &  BUTLER,  Proc.  Ind.  Acad.  Sci.,  1893  (1894),  p.  137 
(Indiana). 
*  Fur-bearing  Animals,  1887,  pp.  173-174. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.       367 

Type  locality  —  Southern  New  York. 

Distribution  —  Eastern  United  States  from  southern  Maine,  northern 
New  York  and  southern  Ontario,  Michigan,  and  greater  part  of 
Wisconsin,    south   to    Kentucky,    Tennessee   and   western    North. 
Carolina.     In  the  West  its  range  extends  at  least  to  the  Mississippi 
River  in  western  Illinois. 

Description  —  In  summer:  Upper  parts  and  fore  and  hind  feet  dark 
brown ;  generally  a  brown  spot  back  of  the  angle  of  the  mouth ;  under 
parts  white,  more  or  less  washed  with  yellowish  (in  some  northern 
Illinois  specimens  the  yellowish  tinge  is  absent);  terminal  portion 
of  the  tail  black  for  one  third  or  more  of  its  length.  In  -winter: 
Entire  pelage  white  (except  end  of  tail),  more  or  less  washed  with 
yellowish;  the  yellowish  tinge  is  usually  noticeable  on  under  parts 
and  distinctly  so  about  the  rump,  hind  legs  and  tail;  end  of  tail 
always  black;  in  the  southern  portion  of  its  range  it  does  not  turn 
white  in  winter,  but  the  pelage  is  paler;  size  very  variable;  females 
much  smaller  than  the  males. 

Measurements  —  Total  length  (males),  usually  from  14.50  to  16  in. 
(370  to  416  mm.);  tail  vertebrae,  4.75  to  5.50  in.  (120  to  140  mm.); 
hind  foot,  1.75  in.  (44.5  mm.).  Total  length  (females),  12  to  13.50 
in.  (304  to  342  mm.) ;  tail  vertebras,  4.25  to  4.75  in.  (108  to  120  mm.) ; 
hind  foot,  about  1.37  in.  (35  mm.). 

Remarks  —  Adult  males  of  this  species  may  readily  be  distinguished  by 
size,  relative  length  of  tail,  etc.  from  P.  cicognanii,  but  a  female 
noveboracensis  and  a  male  cicognanii  often  resemble  each  other  very 
closely.  They  may  generally  be  distinguished  by  the  relative 
difference  in  the  length  of  tail  (see  page  360.)  and  the  absence  of 
yellowish  white  on  the  inner  side  of  the  hind  foot. 
The  range  of  the  New  York  Weasel  includes  practically  the  whole 

of  Illinois*  and  the  greater  part  of  Wisconsin.     It  is  common  at  least  as 

far  north  as  Marathon  County  and  there  is  a  specimen  in  the  Milwaukee 

Public  Museum  from  Oconto  County,  Wisconsin.     Howell  gives  it  as 

fairly  common  in  southern  Illinois  and  records  specimens  from  Golconda, 

Pope  Co.,  and  Lick  Creek,  Union  Co.  (/.  c.,  p.  32). 

Although  Weasels  are  the  smallest  of  our  carnivorous  species,  they 

are  the  most  ferocious  and  sanguinary  of  them  all.     They  seem  to 

*  This  species  in  the  southern  part  of  its  range  is  claimed  to  have  the  under 
parts  decidedly  pale  yellow  and  does  not  turn  white  in  winter;  while  in  the  northern 
portion  of  its  range  it  turns  white  in  winter  and  has  the  under  parts  white  in  summer. 
Mr.  Bangs  has  separated  them  subspecifically,  naming  the  yellow-bellied  form 
notius.  Both  white  and  yellow-bellied  specimens  are  found  in  northern  Illinois  and 
the  animal  turns  white  in  winter  in  this  latitude.  If  the  subspecies  stands  the  test 
of  time,  it  is  probable  that  notius  may  be  found  to  occur  in  southern  Illinois,  but  a 
lack  of  specimens  for  comparison  prevents  me  from  deciding  this  question. 


368     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        369 

delight  in  killing,  and  hunger  plays  but  little  part  in  their  war  of 
extermination.  Probably  no  other  mammal,  with  the  possible  excep- 
tion of  man,  is  so  wanton  in  taking  life  and  habitually  destroying,  for 
the  mere  lust  of  killing,  far  more  than  it  can  possibly  eat. 

Audubon  and  Bachman  inform  us  that  they  have  known  "forty  well 
grown  fowls  to  have  been  killed  in  one  night  by  a  single  Ermine;"* 
Dr.  Merriam  states  he  has  lost  fifteen  doves  in  a  single  night  killed  by 
one  Weasel,  and  I  personally  know  of  several  instances  where  farmers 
have  lost  a  dozen  or  more  chickens  in  a  night  from  the  depredations  of 
these  animals.  Where  they  can  secure  food  with  little  effort  they  rarely 
eat  the  flesh  of  their  victims;  but  merely  suck  the  blood  and  eat  the 
brains  of  the  first  few  which  they  kill  and  the  rest  of  the  bodies  are  left 
untouched. 

Despite  the  fact  that  Weasels  are  undesirable  neighbors  in  the 
vicinity  of  poultry  yards,  it  should  be  borne  in  mind  that  their  natural 
food  consists  largely  of  Mice  and  Rats,  and  by  their  destruction  of 
great  numbers  of  these  pests  they  probably  save  the  farmer  more  than 
the  value  of  the  poultry  which  they  occasionally  kill.  Robert  Kenni- 
cott,  who  has  given  us  so  much  valuable  information  concerning  the 
habits  of  our  mammals,  says:  "Fortunately,  however,  this  animal, 
even  when  abundant,  does  not  enter  the  farm-yard  so  frequently  as 
might  be  expected,  appearing  to  prefer  a  free  life  in  the  woods  to  easy 
but  dangerous  feasts  on  domestic  fowls.  It  is  generally  less  apt  than 
the  mink  to  make  excursions  about  the  abodes  of  man.  I  have  observed 
for  several  years  the  presence  of  a  number  of  these  weasels  in  a  grove 
near  a  farm-yard  well  stocked  with  poultry,  which  they  never  appeared 
to  enter,  though  repeatedly  visited  by  minks  and  skunks.  Indeed,  I 
am  inclined  to  think  that,  notwithstanding  their  occasional  predatory 
inroads,  they  should  not  be  killed  when  living  permanently  about 
meadows  or  cultivated  fields,  at  a  distance  from  the  poultry;  for  they 
are  not  less  destructive  to  many  of  the  farmer's  enemies  in  the  fields. 
Meadow-mice  are  certainly  the  greatest  pests  among  mammals  of 
Northern  Illinois;  and  of  these  the  weasel  destroys  great  numbers.  I 
am  informed  that,  upon  the  appearance  of  a  weasel  in  the  field,  the  army 
of  mice  of  all  kinds  begins  a  precipitate  retreat.  A  gentleman  of 
Wisconsin  related  to  me  that,  while  following  a  plough,  in  spring,  he 
noticed  a  weasel  with  a  mouse  in  its  mouth,  running  past  him.  It 
entered  a  hollow  log.  He  determined  to  watch  further,  if  possible,  the 
animal's  movements,  and  presently  saw  it  come  out  again,  hunt  about 
the  roots  of  some  stumps,  dead  trees,  and  log-heaps,  and  then  enter  a 
hole,  from  which  a  mouse  ran  out.  But  the  weasel  had  caught  one 

*  Quadrupeds  of  N.  Amer.,  II,  1851,  p.  58. 


370    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

and  carried  it  to  the  nest.  Upon  cutting  open  this  log,  five  young 
weasels  were  found,  and  the  remains  of  a  large  number  of  mice,  doubt- 
less conveyed  there  as  food.  Pleased  to  learn  that  his  supposed  enemy 
was  in  fact  a  friend,  and  his  poultry  being  at  considerable  distance,  the 
farmer  spared  the  young  ones,  intending  to  continue  his  observations; 
but  upon  examination  the  next  morning,  they  had  disappeared,  having 
probably  been  carried  by  the  mother  to  a  more  secure  retreat.  I  have 
frequently  found  the  half -eaten  remains  of  meadow-mice  in  their  own 
burrows,  or  under  corn-stacks,  which  had  doubtless  been  destroyed  by 
this  weasel,  or  perhaps  the  smaller  one  (Putorius  cicognanii}.  It  is 
surprising  that  an  animal  so  large  as  this  should  be  able  to  force  its 
way  into  the  burrow  of  meadow-mice ;  and  yet  it  appears  to  do  so  without 
difficulty. 

"Stacks  and  barnfuls  of  grain  are  often  over-run  with  rats  and  mice; 
but  let  a  weasel  take  up  his  residence  there,  and  soon  the  pests  will 
disappear.  A  weasel  will,  occasionally,  remain  for  some  time  in  a  barn, 
feeding  on  these  vermin,  without  disturbing  the  fowls.  But  it  is  never 
safe  to  trust  one  near  the  poultry-yard,  for,  when  once  an  attack  is 
made,  there  is  no  limit  to  the  destruction.  When  the  animal  has  entered 
stacks  or  barns,  it  has  the  curious  habit  of  collecting  in  a  particular 
place  the  bodies  of  all  the  rats  and  mice  it  has  slain;  thus,  sometimes,  a 
pile  of  a  hundred  or  more  of  their  victims  may  be  seen  which  have  been 
killed  in  the  course  of  two  or  three  nights. 

"The  weasel  preys  largely  upon  the  grey  rabbit,  pursuing  it  to  its 
hole,  and  killing  it  there.  Like  the  mink,  too,  it  tracks  its  prey  by  the 
scent,  so  that  the  rabbit  is  lost  if  once  he  seeks  refuge  in  a  burrow  or 
hollow  tree.  It  also  captures  many  ground-squirrels  by  following  them 
into  their  holes,  and  frequently  succeeds  in  killing  quails,  and  sometimes 
birds  as  large  as  the  grouse.  Insects  are  doubtless  its  principal  food. 
Numerous  experiments  are  said  to  have  proved  that  this  species  can  be 
used  in  the  manner  of  the  European  ferret  for  driving  rabbits  from  their 
haunts;  and  it  is  probable  that  it  would  be  found  serviceable  in  a  state 
of  domestication  for  destroying  rats  and  mice.  It  is  readily  tamed  and 
kept,  making  pleasant  as  well  as  useful  pets  when  due  care  is  exercised 
to  prevent  its  attacking  poultry.  It  would  probably  soon  free  houses 
of  the  troublesome  Norway  rat,  as  it  could  pass  through  every  hole 
entered  thereby. 

"Like  all  the  family,  the  weasel  is  nocturnal,  though  in  some  in- 
stances it  is  seen  hunting  by  day.  It  is  very  active,  and  one  may 
sometimes  be  tracked  in  the  snow  through  a  journey  of  two  or  three 
miles,  made  in  a  single  night.  It  is,  however,  more  attached  to  a  per- 
manent residence  than  the  mink.  It  is  not  at  all  aquatic,  nor  does  it, 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        371 

to  my  knowledge,  show  any  preference  for  the  vicinity  of  water  either 
to  its  hunting  grounds  or  its  retreat.  It  appears  generally  to  prefer 
hilly  and  rocky  regions.  It  is  said  not  to  burrow  readily,  but  usually 
to  take  possession  of  the  burrow  of  another  animal,  or  to  choose  its 
retreat  in  some  natural  crevice  among  rocks,  or  in  slight  excavations 
formed  by  itself  under  trees.  I  have  generally  found  it  occupying  the 
burrow  of  the  common  ground-squirrel  (Tamias  striatus),  and  have 
sometimes  known  it  to  live  in  hollow  logs  in  summer.  It  often  travels 
under  snow,  through  pathways  constructed  like  those  of  the  shrews 
and  meadow-mice ;  and  I  have  traced  these  snow-covered  ways  for  many 
rods,  where  the  weasel  had  evidently  been  in  search  of  prey.  Some  of 
these  had  been  travelled  repeatedly  and  for  a  long  time,  though  few 
tracks  were  seen* on  the  surface.  In  consequence  of  this  habit,  the 
presence  of  the  animal  is  sometimes  not  noticed. 

"In  its  winter  quarters,  the  weasel  forms  a  large,  warm  nest,  like 
that  of  the  mink.  Five  young  are  commonly  produced  in  the  early 
part  of  summer;  and  these,  I  am  informed,  remain  with  the  mother,  or 
at  least  keep  together  in  the  same  neighborhood  till  autumn,  when  they 
separate,  and,  like  the  mink,  lead  a  solitary  life,  the  males  only  joining 
the  females  in  the  pairing  season.  This  is  in  the  latter  part  of  February, 
at  which  time  the  males  are  very  active,  wandering  far  from  their 
burrows  in  search  of  the  females.  I  cannot  say  whether  this  species 
ever  inhabits  the  prairie  at  a  distance  from  the  woods.  It  may  be  that 
all  the  weasels  found  living  on  the  prairies  of  Illinois  are  of  the  smaller 
species,  Putorius  cicognanii.  All  the  weasels  identified  with  the  Putorius 
noveboracensis,  which  I  have  observed,  were  taken  in  the  woods.  This 
species  is  not  a  tree-climber  any  more  than  the  mink;  but  it  has  occa- 
sionally been  seen  to  ascend  trees,  and  I  am  informed  of  a  remarkable 
instance  in  which  one  was  observed  to  pursue  and  overtake  a  ground- 
squirrel  upon  a  tree."  (/.  c.,  1858,  pp.  105-106.) 

As  illustrating  the  ferocity  of  these  animals,  Dr.  C.  Hart  Merriam 
says:* 

"I  once  put  a  very  large  rat  into  a  square  tin  cage  with  a  Weasel 
of  this  species.  The  rat  had  been  caught  in  a  steel  trap  by  the  toes  of 
one  of  its  hind  feet,  and  was  in  no  way  injured.  He  was  very  ugly, 
biting  fiercely  at  the  trap  and  the  stick  with  which  I  assisted  him  into 
the  cage  with  the  Weasel.  No  sooner  had  he  entered  the  cage  than  his 
whole  manner  and  bearing  changed.  He  immediately  assumed  an 
attitude  of  abject  terror,  trembling  from  head  to  foot,  and  crawled  into 
the  nearest  corner.  The  Weasel  advanced  toward  him  at  once,  and  as 
he  did  so  the  rat  raised  on  his  hind  legs,  letting  his  fore  paws  hang 

*  Mamm.  Adirondack  Reg.,  1886,  p.  57. 


372     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.       373 

helplessly  over  his  breast,  and  squealed  piteously.  Not  only,  did  he 
show  no  disposition  to  fight,  but  offered  no  resistance  whatever,  and 
did  not  even  attempt  to  defend  himself  when  molested.  The  Weasel 
did  not  seize  him  at  first,  but  cuffed  him  with  his  fore  paws  and  drove 
him  from  one  corner  of  the  cage  to  another,  glaring  at  him  contin- 
uously. Then,  with  a  sudden  move,  he  sprang  upon  his  victim,  already 
paralyzed  with  fear,  laid  open  the  back  of  his  head  with  a  single  bite,  ate 
the  brains,  and  left  the  quivering  carcass  untouched. 

"The  Ermine  hunts  both  by  day  and  by  night,  and  climbs  trees 
with  great  ease  and •  celerity.  I  have  often  'treed'  them  myself  by 
running  after  them  in  the  woods,  and  have  also  seen  them  chase  chip- 
munks up  trees.  Twice  have  I  seen  them  run  up  the  smooth  trunks  of 
the  beech.  They  are  not  very  timid  and  will  allow  a  near  approach 
before  taking  fright." 

The  New  York  Weasel  turns  white  in  winter  in  latitudes  where 
there  is  snow  the  greater  part  of  the  season.  The  young  are  born  late 
in  April  or  early  in  May  and  usually  number  from  five  to  eight.  Mr. 
W.  E.  Snyder  informs  me  that  on  May  4,  1910,  while  plowing  a  field  at 
Beaver  Dam,  Wisconsin,  a  Weasel's  nest  was  discovered  which  pre- 
sumably belonged  to  this  species.  The  nest  was  in  a  deserted  burrow  of 
a  Striped  Prairie  Squirrel  (C.  tridecemlineatus) ,  which  was  about  five 
feet  in  length  and  about  a  foot  below  the  surface  of  the  ground.  The 
nest  was  lined  with  Microtus  fur  and  contained  eight  young  Weasels 
with  eyes  not  yet  opened  and  bodies  almost  naked  except  about  the 
shoulders  where  they  were  covered  with  long  hair.  In  the  nest  were 
four  dead  Meadow  Mice  (Microtus},  one  adult  and  three  young  which 
were  evidently  intended  as  a  food  supply  for  the  mother. 

The  white  winter  skins  of  these  animals  when  used  for  capes,  muffs, 
etc.,  are  apparently  indistinguishable  from  those  of  the  Old  World 
Weasels  (P.  ermina),  which  are  the  Ermine  of  commerce,  often  much 
in  fashion  for  ladies'  winter  garments,  and  which  in  Europe  were  used 
for  the  robes  of  kings  and  nobles,  thus  obtaining  a  distinct  recogni- 
tion in  heraldry. 

Like  the  Minks  the  Weasels  are  supplied  with  anal  glands  which 
secrete  a  fetid  liquid,  but  are  unable  to  forcibly  eject  it  like  the  Skunk. 

Specimens  examined  from  Illinois  and  Wisconsin: 
Illinois  —  Bloomingdale  Springs,  i ;  Milton  Spring,  i ;  Fort  Sheridan,  i ; 

Camp  Logan,  3  =  6. 
Wisconsin — (M.  P.  M.)  Milton,  Rock  Co.,  2;  Milwaukee,  2;  Kelly 

Brook,  Oconto  Co.,   i;  Milwaukee  Co.,   i;  (S.  C.)  Beaver  Dam, 

Dodge  Co.,  20=26. 


374    FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 


Map  illustrating  the  supposed  range  of  the  New  York  Weasel  (Putorius  noveboracensis)  in  eastern 
United  States. 

Putorius  longicauda  spadix  BANGS. 
MINNESOTA  LONG-TAILED  WEASEL. 

Putorius  longicauda  spadix  BANGS,  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  X,  1896,  p.  8.     MILLER, 
Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  XXVIII,  1897,  p.  44  (Ontario). 

Type  locality  —  Fort  Snelling,  Minnesota. 

Distribution  —  Minnesota  and  western  Wisconsin ;  limits  of  range  not 

known.     Probably    intergrades    with    P.    longicauda    in    western 

Minnesota  or  eastern  Dakota. 
Description  —  In  summer:   Upper  parts  brown,  approaching  the  color 

of  P.  noveboracensis;  under  parts  whitish  tinged  with  pale  saffron 

buff  (quite  different  from  the  lemon  yellow  wash  of  noveboracensis) ; 

greater  portion  of  fore  and  hind  feet  whitish  like  the  under  parts; 

chin  and  upper  lip  white;  tail  long,  the  black  tip  short,  being  less 

than  one  fourth  length  of  tail ;  skull  somewhatrheavier  and  zygomata 

more  widely  expanded  than  in  noveboracensis. 

In  winter:  White  all  over,  without  yellow  tinge ;  end  of  tail  black ; 

some  specimens  occasionally  show  a  slight  yellowish  wash  on  the  tail. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS- AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        375 

Measurements  —  Total  length  (male),  about  18  in.  (455  mm.);  tail 
vertebrae,  about  6.50  in.  (164  mm.);  hind  foot,  2.15  in.  (55  mm.). 
Female  smaller;  average  length  about  15  in.  (380  mm.);  tail,  about 
5  in.  (125  mm.). 

There  are  two  specimens  in  the  collection  of  the  Milwaukee  Public 
Museum  (one  in  winter  and  the  other  in  summer  pelage)  from  Prescott, 
Pierce  County,  Wisconsin,  which  I  have  provisionally  referred  to  this 
subspecies.  In  the  coloration  of  the  under  parts  in  summer  pelage  they 
resemble  spadix,  but  they  are  by  no  means  typical  and  the  cranial 
characters  and  comparative  length  of  the  tail  strongly  suggest  inter- 
gradation.  Unfortunately  very  few  Wisconsin  specimens  are  available 
for  examination  and  I  have  seen  but  two  examples  in  summer  pelage. 
When  a  good  series  of  Weasels  can  be  secured  from  northern  Wisconsin 
it  is  not  unlikely  that  the  range  of  P.  n.  occisor  may  be  found  to  extend 
into  that  region. 

Putorius  cicognanii  (BONAPARTE). 
BONAPARTE'S  WEASEL. 

Mustela  cicognanii  BONAPARTE,  Inconogr.  Fauna  Ital.,  I,  fasc.  XXII,  1838,  p.  4. 

Putorius  cicognanii  MILES,  Rept.  Geol.  Surv.  Mich.,  I,  1860  (1861),  p.  220  (Mich- 
igan). STRONG,  Geol.  Wis.,  Surv.  1873-79,  I.  I883,  p.  437  (Wisconsin). 
SNYDER,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  II,  1902,  p.  125  (Wisconsin).  ADAMS,  Rept. 
State  Board  Geol.  Surv.  Mich.,  1905  (1906),  p.  130  (Michigan).  JACKSON,  Bull. 
Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  VI,  1908,  p.  28  (Wisconsin). 

Type  locality  —  Northeastern  North  America;  exact  locality  unknown. 

Distribution  —  Northern  United  States  and  southern  Canada,  in  the 
East  south  to  Wisconsin  and  Michigan  and  in  the  mountains  of 
Pennsylvania;  in  the  West  its  range  extends  in  Canada  to  the 
Pacific  Coast  and  in  the  United  States  in  the  Rocky  Mountains  at 
least  to  Colorado. 

Special  characters  —  Smaller  than  noveboracensis  and  tail  shorter.  In 
summer  the  whitish  portion  of  inner  sides  of  hind  feet  usually  more  or 
less  tinged  with  yellow. 

Description  —  In  summer:  Upper  parts  and  legs  dark  brown ;  under 
parts  generally  including  the  upper  lip,  white,  more  or  less  washed 
with  yellowish;  toes  whitish;  inner  sides  of  hind  feet  whitish, more  or 
less  tinged  with  yellow;  end  of  tail  black;  no  brown  spot  back  of 
angle  of  mouth. 

In  winter:  Entire  pelage,  except  end  of  tail,  white,  washed  with 
yellowish  on  rump  and  under  parts;  end  of  tail  black.  The  size  is 
variable  and  the  female  is  much  smaller  than  the  male. 


376    FIELD  MUSEUM  OP  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

Measurements  —  Total  length  (males),  generally  10.25  to  12  in.  (260  to 
304  mm.) ;  tail  vertebrae,  3.50  to  4.25  in.  (88  to  108  mm.) ;  hind  foot, 
about  1.37  in.  (35  mm.).  Total  length  (females),  8.50  to  9.50  in. 
(215  to  241  mm.);  tail  vertebras,  2.75  to  3.25  in.  (70  to  82.5  mm.); 
hind  foot,  about  1.25  in.  (32  mm.). 

Remarks  —  While  females  of  this  species  often  resemble  males  of 
noveboracensis  in  size,  they  may  generally  be  distinguished  by  the 
relative  difference  in  length  of  tail  (see  key,  p.  360.)  and  in  summer 
pelage  by  the  whitish  color  on  toes  and  often  on  inner  side  of  the 
hind  foot. 


Bonaparte's  Weasel  (Summer  pelage). 
(Putorius  cicognanii.) 

Bonaparte's  Weasel,  sometimes  called  Short-tailed  Weasel,  is  found 
in  more  or  less  numbers  throughout  nearly  the  whole  of  Wisconsin. 
It  is  common  in  the  central  and  northern  parts  of  the  state,  but  scarce 
in  the  extreme  southeastern  portion,  and  so  far  as  known  it  has  not  been 
recorded  from  southwestern  Wisconsin  or  Illinois.  Kennicott  states 
that  he  secured  specimens  of  this  species  in  northern  Illinois  (presum- 
ably Northfield),  one  of  which  was  sent  to  the  Smithsonian  Institution.* 
This  specimen  (No.  268,  marked  R.  Kennicott,  N.  Illinois)  has  been 
examined  by  Mr.  N.  Hollister  who  writes:  "Mr.  Gerrit  S.  Miller  and 

*  Agr.  Rept.  for  1858,  U.  S.  Patent  Office  Kept.,  1859,  p.  244. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        377 

myself  have  examined  the  Kennicott  Weasel  from  northern  Illinois, 
and  agree  that  it  is  an  immature  noveboracensis  and  not  cicognanii." 

The  habits  of  this  species  are  practically  the  same  as  those  of  the 
New  York  Weasel. 

Specimens  examined  from  Illinois,  Wisconsin  and  adjoining  states: 
Wisconsin  —  Tomahawk  Lake,  i;  (M.  P.  M.)  Eagle  River,  Vilas  Co., 

i;  (O.  C.)  St.  Croix  River,  Douglas  Co.,  i;  Racine  Co.,  2;  Mercer, 

Iron  Co.,  4;  Fox  Lake,  Iron  Co.  (skull),  i;  Langlade  Co.  (skulls),  3; 

Colfax,  Dunn  Co.  (skulls),  6;  Fisher  Lake,  Iron  Co.,  2;  (S.  C.) 

Beaver  Dam,  Dodge  Co.,  2  =  23. 
Minnesota  —  Ft.  Snelling,  i;  Aitken,  12  =  13. 


Map  illustrating  supposed  range  of  Bonaparte's  Weasel  (Putorius  cicognanii)  and  the  southern 
portion  of  the  range  of  Richardson's  Weasel  (P.  c.  richardsoni)  in  eastern  North  America. 

Putorius   cicognanii    (BoNAp.).     Type    locality  —  Northeastern    North    America. 

Description  as  previously  given. 
Putorius  c.  richardsoni  (BONAP.).     (Charlesw.  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  II,  1838,  p.  38.) 

Type  locality  —  Fort  Franklin,  Great  Bear  Lake,  British  Columbia.     Similar 

to  cicognanii  but  larger;  audital  bullae  larger. 


378     FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 

Putorius  rixosus  allegheniensis  (RHOADS). 
ALLEGHENIAN  LEAST  WEASEL. 

Putorius  allegheniensis  RHOADS,  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  1900,  p.  751. 

Putorius  rixosus  allegheniensis  WARD,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  V,  1907,  p.  63 
(Wisconsin).  Ib.,  VII,  1909,  p.  n  (Wisconsin).  Ib.,  IX,  1911,  p.  82  (Wis- 
consin) . 

Putorius  pusillus  KENNICOTT,  Agr.  Rept.  for  1858,  U.  S.  Patent  Office  Rept.,  1859, 
p.  245  (northern  Illinois  and  Indiana). 

Mustela  pusilla  LAPHAM,  Trans.  Wis.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  II,  1852  (1853),  p.  338.* 

Type  locality  —  Near  Beallsville,  Washington  County,  Pennsylvania. 
Distribution  —  From  Virginia  and  New  York  west  to  Wisconsin ;  exact 

limits  of  range  unknown. 
Special  characters  —  Size  very  small ;  end  of  tail  without  black  or 

occasionally  slightly  dusky  at  extreme  tip.     Differs  from  P.  rixosus 

in  being  somewhat  larger  and  darker,  together  with  some  slight 

cranial  differences. 
Description  —  In   summer:    Upper  parts  walnut  brown;   under  parts 

white;  tail  like  the  back,  without  distinct  black  end,  although  it  is 

occasionally  dusky  at  the  extreme  tip. 

In  winter:  Entirely  white, including  end  of  tail;  female  decidedly 

smaller  than  the  male. 
Measurements  — -  Total  length  (male),  about  7.50  inches;  tail  vertebrae, 

about  i. 20  inches;  hind  foot,  about  .80  inch. 

Male  (mounted  specimen)  —  Sauk  Co.,  Wisconsin;  total  length, 

169  mm.;  tail  vertebrae,  35  mm.  (Ward). 

Female  (in  flesh)  —  Racine  Co.,  Wisconsin;  total  length,   179 

mm.;  tail  vertebrae,  29;  hind  foot,  21  (Ward). 

Type  (mounted  specimen) — Total  length,  199  mm.;  tail  ver- 
tebras, 19;  hind  foot,  20  (Rhoads). 

So  far  as  known  only  four  specimens  of  this  little  Weasel  have  been 
taken  within  our  limits  and  all  of  them  in  Wisconsin.  The  records  for 
these  specimens  were  first  reported  by  Mr.  Henry  L.  Ward  and  are  as 
follows:  A  female  from  Burlington,  Racine  Co.,  Nov.  26,  1906,  caught 
in  the  country  in  the  act  of  killing  a  Mole  (/.  c.,  1907,  p.  63) ;  a  female 
captured  alive  in  the  town  of  Sumpter,  Sauk  Co.,  Nov.,  1902;  a  male 
taken  January  10,  1906,  in  the  town  of  Merrimac,  Sauk  Co.  (/.  c.,  1909, 
pp.  i  i-i  2) ;  and  the  fourth  specimen,  which  is  a  female,  is  in  the  Milwau- 
kee Museum  collection,  and  was  taken  near  Prescott,  Pierce  Co.,  March 
6,  1911. 

The  type  of  this  subspecies  was  taken  near  Beallsville,  Pennsylvania, 

*  It  is  doubtful  whether  Lapham  refers  to  this  species  or  to  some  other. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        379 

and  it  will,  therefore,  undoubtedly  be  found  to  occur  in  northern 
Illinois  and  Indiana.  I  can  see  no  reason  why  the  Lesser  Weasel, 
P.  pusillus,  given  by  Kennicott  as  occurring  in  Indiana  and  northern 
Illinois  should  not  be  this  form.  He  gives  the  length  from  nose  to  root 
of  tail  as  about  six  inches  and  tail  vertebrae  not  exceeding  two  inches, 
and  says:  "There  can  be  no  difficulty  in  distinguishing  it  from  all  others, 
not  only  by  its  dimensions,  but  by  the  very  short  tail,  which  is  destitute 
of  the  black  tip  characteristic  of  the  rest,  although  the  extremity  is 
sometimes  dusky"  (/.  c.,  p.  245). 

Very  little  is  known  regarding  the  habits  of  this  little  Weasel,  but 
they  probably  do  not  differ  from  others  of  this  tribe.  On  account  of  its 
diminutive  size,  however,  it  would  probably  not  be  very  destructive  to 
poultry  and  no  doubt  preys  largely  upon  small  animals,  such  as  Mice, 
insects  and  small  birds,  as  does  its  diminutive  European  cousin. 

Specimens  examined  from  Wisconsin: 
Wisconsin  —  (M.  P.  M.)  Sumpter,  Sauk  Co.,  i ;  Merrimac,  Sauk  Co.,  i ; 

Prescott,  Pierce  Co.,  1  =  3. 


Map  illustrating  the  supposed  distribution  of  the  Least  Weasels  (Putorius  rixosus  and  P.  r.  alle- 
gheniensisi  in  eastern  United  States  and  Canada.  The  two  forms  probably  intergrade  in  eastern- 
Minnesota. 

Putorius  rixosus  Bangs.  (Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  X,  1896,  p.  21.)  Type  locality  — 
Osier,  Saskatchewan,  Canada.  Size  very  small,  smallest  of  our  Weasels. 

Putorius  r.  allegheniensis  Rhoads.  Type  locality  —  Near  Beallsville,  Washington 
Co.,  Penn.  Larger  than  rixosus;  description  as  previously  given. 


380    FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 


Map  showing  the  type  localities  of  species  and  subspecies  of  Weasels  (belonging  to  the  subgenus 
Ictis)  in  eastern  United  States. 

Putorius  noveboracemis  EMMONS.  Type  locality  —  Southern  New  York.  Descrip- 
tion as  previously  given. 

Putorius  n.  notius  BANGS.  (Proc.  N.  Eng.  Zool.  Club,  I,  1899,  p.  53.)  Type 
locality  —  Weaverville,  Buncombe  Co.,  North  Carolina.  Similar  to  novebora- 
censis  "but  darker  brown  above  and  yellowish  instead  of  white  below;  black 
occupying  nearly  half  the  length  of  the  tail"  (Bangs). 

Putorius  n.  occisor  (BANGS).  (Proc.  N.  Eng.  Zool.  Club,  I,  1899,  p.  54.)  Type 
locality  —  Bucksport,  near  mouth  of  the  Penobscott  River,  Hancock  Co., 
Maine.  Similar  to  noveboracensis,  but  larger  and  with  longer  tail,  with  less 
black  at  the  end. 

Putorius  cicognanii  (BONAPARTE).  Type  locality  —  Northeastern  North  America; 
precise  locality  unknown.  Description  as  previously  given. 

Putorius  peninsula  RHOADS.  (Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  1894,  p.  152.)  Type 
locality  —  Hudson's,  Pasco  Co.,  14  miles  north  of  Tarpon  Springs,  Hillsboro 
Co.,  Florida.  "Size  rather  large,  about  equalling  male  of  Pulorius  novebora- 
censis; skull  similar  to  that  of  longicauda,  but  with  very  large  audital  bullas" 
(Rhoads). 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        381 

Putorius  rixosus  allegheniensis  (RHOADs).  Type  locality  —  Beallsville,  Washington 
Co.,  Pennsylvania.  Description  as  previously  given. 

Putorius  longicauda  spadix  BANGS.  (Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  X,  1896,  p.  8.)  Type 
locality  —  Fort  Snelling,  Hennepin  Co.,  Minnesota.  Similar  to  longicauda,  but 
darker  in  summer.  Average  length  of  males  about  18  inches;  tail  vertebrae 
about  6.50  inches;  upper  parts  somewhat  more  walnut  brown  than  novebora- 
censis  in  summer,  and  lacking  saffron  yellow  wash  on  rump  and  base  of  tail  in 
winter;  tail  decidedly  longer;  feet  whitish. 


Genus  MUSTELA  *  Linn. 

Mustela  Linnaeus,  Syst.  Nat.,  X  ed.,  I,  1758,  p.  45.     Type  Mustela 

ntartes  Linn. 

Body  long  and  thickly  furred;  tail  bushy;  feet  digitigrade;  soles  of 
feet  furred,  with  naked  pads;  lower  carnassial  or  sectorial  tooth  with 
small  internal  tubercle  on  largest  cusp;  5  upper  cheek  teeth  (molars 
and  premolars)  and  6  lower  in  each  side  of  jaws  (the  Minks  and  Weasels 
have  less);  skull  flattened;  bull'ae  flattened;  auditory  meatus  some- 
what tubular. 

Dental  formula:  I.  ^,  C.  — ,  Pm.  ^—^,  M.  ^=38. 
3-3         i-i  4-4          2-2 

KEY   TO  THE   SPECIES. 

A.  Total  length  less  than  30  inches;  tail  vertebrae  less  than  10  inches;  ears  pointed. 

MARTEN.     Mustela  americana,  p.  381. 

B.  Total  length  more  than  30  inches ;  tail  vertebra  more  than  10  inches ;  ears  rounded. 

FISHER.     Mustela  pennanti,  p.  387. 

Mustela  americana  TURTON. 
MARTEN.     PINE  MARTEN.     AMERICAN  SABLE. 

[Mustela]  americanus  TURTON,  Linnaeus  System  of  Nature,  I,  1806,  p.  60. 

Mustela  ntartes  LAPHAM,  Trans.  Wis.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  II,  1852  (1853),  p.  338  (Wis- 
consin). KENNICOTT,  Trans.  111.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  1853-54  (1855),  p.  578  (Cook 
Co.,  Illinois). 

Mustela  americana  KENNICOTT,  Agr.  Kept,  for  1858,  U.  S.  Pat.  Office  Rept.,  1859, 
p.  242  (Illinois).  THOMAS,  Trans.  111.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  1859-60  (1861),  p.  654 
(Illinois).  MILES,  Rept.  Geol.  Surv.  Mich.,  I,  1860  (1861),  p.  220  (Michigan). 
STRONG,  Geol.  Wis.,  Surv.  1873-79,  I,  1883,  p.  436  (Wisconsin).  HERRICK, 
Geol.  &  Nat.  Hist.  Surv.  Minn.,  Bull.  No.  7,  1892,  p.  104  (Minnesota).  MILLER, 
Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  XXVIII,  1897,  p.  42  (Nepigon,  Ontario). 

*  According  to  Thomas  (Proc.  Zopl.  Soc.  Lond.,  1911,  p.  139)  the  name  Mustela 
commonly  used  for  this  genus  must  give  place  to  Maries. 


382     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 


Skull  of  Marten  (Mustela  americana). 

(Slightly  reduced.) 
From  Elliot's  Synopsis  Mammals  N.  Amer. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        383 

Type  locality  —  Eastern  North  America. 

Distribution  —  Northeastern  North  America  from  Wisconsin,  Mich- 
igan and  New  York  north  to  about  the  latitude  of  Hudson  Bay, 
west  to  Minnesota,  south  in  mountains  to  Virginia;  replaced  in 
the  West  and  North  by  allied  forms. 

Description  —  Ears  rather  high  and  pointed;  general  color  dark  yel- 
lowish brown,  darkest  on  middle  of  back  and  shading  into  dusky 
on  the  legs  and  tail;  head  tinged  with  gray;  a  patch  of  orange  buff 
on  throat  and  breast;  claws  brownish  white.     This  species  varies 
in  color,  the  brown  being  lighter  or  darker  in  different  individuals; 
the  throat  patch  varies  from  orange  to  yellowish  white. 
Measurements  —  Total  length,  about  25  in.  (627  mm.);  tail  vertebrae, 
about  7.75  in.  (197  mm.);  hind  foot,  about  3.50  in.  (89  mm.). 
While  the  Marten  is  steadily  decreasing  in  numbers  and  is,  at  the 
present  time,  a  comparatively  rare  animal  within  our  limits,  a  few  are 
still  to  be  found  in  northern  Wisconsin.     In  former  days  its  range 
extended  considerably  farther  south.     Kennicott  records  it  in  his  mam- 
mals of  Cook  Co.,  Illinois,  and  there  is  a  skeleton  in  the  Chicago  Acad- 
emy of  Sciences  which  is  said  to  have  been  taken  in  northern  Illinois 
many  years  ago.     Wisconsin  records  are  as  follows :  The  Field  Museum 
collection  contains  a  specimen  from  Florence  County,  and  a  skull  from 
Star  Lake,  Vilas  Co.;  Dr.  H.  V.  Ogden  of  Milwaukee  has  skulls  in  his 
collection  from  Fisher  Lake,  Iron  Co.,  and  Drummond,  Bayfield  Co. 
The  following  gentlemen  have  informed  me  that  Martens  are  still  to  be 
found  in  the  counties  of  northern  Wisconsin  named  below,  their  state- 
ments being  based  upon  personal  knowledge  or  the  testimony  of  reliable 
hunters  and  trappers  in  their  locality:    Marinette  Co.  (Mr.  Geo.  A. 
Williams,  Kremlin);  Florence  Co.  (Mr.  J.  E.  Parry,  Florence);  Price 
Co.*  (Mr.  W.  J.  Webster,  Park  Falls);  Iron  Co.  (Mr.  Edward  Ball, 
Sandrock);  Bayfield  Co.  (Mr.  M.  Berg,  Cable);  Douglas  Co.  (Mr.  N. 
Lucins,  Jr.,  Solon  Springs,  and  Mr.  G.  W.  Zeon,  Foxboro);  Marathon 
Co.  (Mr.  Geo.  F.  Erzwein,  Athens). 

The  Marten  is  an  inhabitant  of  the  forests  and,  like  the  Fisher,  is 
an  expert  climber  and  largely  arboreal  in  its  habits.  It  preys  upon 
almost  any  animal  that  comes  in  its  way,  from  Hares  to  Mice,  as  well 
as  fish,  frogs,  birds,  bird's  eggs  and  carrion.  Regarding  its  habits 
Robert  Kennicott  says:  "  .  .  .  the  retreat  of  the  martens  is 
usually  in  standing  hollow  trees,  and  that,  in  winter,  they  may  fre- 
quently be  discovered  sitting  with  their  heads  out  of  the  holes.  As, 
if  shot  in  this  position,  they  would  fall  back  and  be  lost,  advantage  is 

*  Mr.  Webster,  who  is  superintendent  of  schools,  writes  me  that  quite  a  number 
of  Martens  have  been  taken  in  Price  County. 


384    FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        385 

taken  of  their  inquisitiveness,  by  walking  slowly  around  the  tree,  and 
inducing  the  animal  to  draw  its  body  entirely  out  of  the  hole,  in  order 
to  keep  the  object  of  its  curiosity  in  view.  When  quite  out,  a  well- 
directed  shot  brings  it  to  the  ground. 

"The  marten  prefers  the  densest  woods  in  mountainous  districts, 
and  exhibits  no  liking  for  water.  It  is  said  that  in  the  far  North  it 
preys  on  mice,  hares,  and  grouse,  and  in  summer  on  small  birds,  eggs, 
etc.,  and  that  it  does  not  reject  carrion.  Like  the  fisher,  it  is  often 
troublesome  in  winter  by  destroying  the  hoards  of  meat  and  fish  laid 
up  by  the  natives,  whenever  a  crevice  is  accidentally  left  by  which  it 
can  enter.  It  is  stated  that  it  also  feeds  upon  insects  and  reptiles,  and, 
like  the  bear,  is  fond  of  honey.  It  is  also  affirmed  that  it  has  been 
known  to  eat  nuts  and  berries;  but  there  is  doubt,  at  least,  if  it  ever 
subsists  habitually  on  any  other  than  animal  food.  It  feeds  much 
upon  squirrels,  which  it  pursues  and  captures  on  the  trees,  following 
them  into  their  holes."  (1.  c.,  p.  243.) 

Mr.  Gerrit  S.  Miller,  Jr.,  writes:  "At  Nepigon  a  trapper  told  me  that 
martens,  wherever  they  occur  in  sufficient  numbers,  so  terrorize  the 
red  squirrels  by  constant  persecution  that  the  noisy  rodents,  learning 
that  silence  is  their  best  protection,  stop  chattering.  Hence  an  abun- 
dance of  silent  squirrels  is  —  according  to  my  'informant  at  least  —  a 
certain  indication  that  marten  fur  is  plenty"  (/.  c.,  p.  42). 

It  is  claimed  that  Martens  are  both  nocturnal  and  diurnal  in  habits. 
The  nest  is  usually  in  a  hollow  tree,  but  occasionally  a  burrow  in  the 
ground.  The  young  are  born  late  in  April  or  early  in  May  and  number 
from  i  to  5,  usually  3  or  4.  The  odoriferous  anal  glands  of  this  animal 
are  analogous  to  those  of  the  weasels. 

Great  numbers  of  Martens  are  annually  trapped  for  their  skins. 
The  fur  is  handsome  and  valuable  and  is  popularly  known  as  American 
Sable. 

All  Sables  are  Martens  of  some  species  and  furriers  have  various 
trade  names  of  their  own  to  indicate  shades  of  color.  The  most 
valuable  fur  furnished  by  a  member  of  this  group  of  mammals  is  that 
of  the  Asiatic  Sable  (Mustela  zibellina) ,  and  the  finest  skins  come  from 
Kamchatka  and  Russian  Poland. 

Specimens  examined  from  Illinois  and  Wisconsin: 
Wisconsin  —  Florence  Co.,  i;  Star  Lake,  Vilas  Co.  (skull),  i;  (O.  C.) 

Fisher  Lake,  Iron  Co.  (skull),  i;  Drummond,  Bayfield  Co.  (skull), 

1  =  4. 
"Illinois"  —  Skeleton,  i.     (In  Chicago  Academy  of  Sciences.) 


386    FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 


Map  illustrating  supposed  distribution  of  species  belonging  to  the  genus  Mustela  ( except  M. 
pennanti)  in  eastern  United  States  and  Canada. 


Mustela  americana  TURTON.  Type  locality  —  Eastern  North  America.  De- 
scription as  previously  given. 

Mustela  a.  abieticola  PREBLE.  (N.  Amer.  Fauna,  No.  22,  1902,  p.  68.)  Type  lo- 
cality—  Cumberland  House,  Saskatchewan,  Canada.  "Much  larger  than 
Mustela  americana;  dentition  heavier"  (Preble). 

Mustela  a.  brumalis  (BANGS).  (Amer.  Nat.,  XXXII,  1898,  p.  502,  fig. .)  Type 

locality  —  Okak,  Labrador.  Larger  and  darker  than  americana. 

Mustela  atrata  BANGS.  (Amer.  Nat.,  XXXI,  1897,  p.  162.)  Type  locality  —  Bay 
St.  George,  New  Foundland.  Decidedly  darker  brown  and  throat  patch  tinged 
with  orange. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        387 

Mustela  pennant!  ERXLEBEN. 
FISHER.     PEKAN.     PENNANT'S  MARTEN. 

[Mustela]  pennanti  ERXLEBEN,  Syst.  Regni  Anim.,  I,  1777,  p.  470. 

Mustela  Canadensis  LAPHAM,  Trans.  Wis.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  II,  1852  (1853),  p.  338 
(Wisconsin?).  KENNICOTT,  Trans.  111.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  I,  1853-54  (1855),  p.  578 
(Cook  Co.,  Illinois). 

Mustela  pennantii  KENNICOTT,  Agr.  Rept.  for  1858,  U.  S.  Patent  Office  Kept.,  1859, 
p.  241  (northern  Illinois).  THOMAS,  Trans.  111.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  IV,  1859-60 
(1861),  p.  654  (Illinois).  MILES,  Rept.  Geol.  Surv.  Mich.,  I,  1860  (1861),  p.  220 
(Michigan).  STRONG,  Geol.  Wis.,  Surv.  1873-79,  I,  (1883),  p.  436  (Wis- 
consin). 

Mustela  pennanti  HERRICK,  Geol.  &  Nat.  Hist.  Surv.  Minn.,  Bull.  No.  7,  1892,  p.  103 
(Minnesota).  RHOADS,  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  1896  (1897),  p.  198  (Ten- 
nessee). HAHN,  Ann.  Rept.  Dept.  Geol.  &  Nat.  Resources  Ind.,  1908  (1909), 
p.  587  (Indiana). 

Type  locality  —  Eastern  Canada. 

Distribution  —  Northern  North  America  from  the  Atlantic  nearly  to 
the  Pacific  and  from  Hudson  Bay  to  the  region  of  the  Great  Lakes 
and  further  south  in  the  Allegheny  Mountains;  in  the  Northwest 
its  range  extends  to  at  least  latitude  60°;  replaced  on  the  Pacific 
Coast  by  M .  pacifica,  a  closely  allied  form. 

Description  —  Larger  and  darker  than  M .  americana,  and  lacking  the 
pale  throat  patch;  ears  rather  low  and  rounded;  under  parts,  legs, 
end  of  tail  and  lower  portion  of  back  very  dark  brown  or  blackish 
brown;  head  and  shoulders  grizzly  gray,  much  lighter  than  the 
rest;  lining  of  ear  whitish;  claws  brownish  white;  tail  bushy.  The 
females  are  smaller  than  the  males. 

Measurements  —  Total  length,  about  35  in.  (890  mm.);  tail  vertebrae, 
13.50  in.  (343  mm.);  hind  foot,  4.25  in.  (108  mm.). 
Although  for  many  years  the  Fisher  has  been  supposed  to  be  extinct 
in  Wisconsin,  it  is  by  no  means  improbable  that  a  few  individuals  may 
still  exist  in  some  of  the  extreme  northern  counties.  I  am  informed  by 
hunters  that  it  is  occasionally  taken  in  the  wilder  portions  of  the  Mich- 
igan peninsula  and  there  are  three  specimens  from  Michigan  in  the 
Field  Museum  collection;  two  from  Park  Siding,  Iron  Co.,  taken  in 
1900,  and  another  from  Amasa,  Iron  Co.,  taken  in  1898.  Mr.  Charles 
Brandler  informs  me  that  he  saw  a  Fisher  which  had  been  killed  by 
William  Robinson  in  November,  1900,  south  of  Iron  Mountain  between 
that  place  and  Pembine,  Florence  Co.,  Wisconsin,  the  locality  being 
either  actually  in  Wisconsin  or  very  close  to  the  state  line.  In  early 
days  its  range  extended  south  to  northern  Illinois.  Kennicott  records 
it  from  Cook  Co.,  Illinois,  and  says:  "The  Fisher  used  frequently  to 


388    FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        389 

be  seen  in  the  heavy  timber  along  Lake  Michigan  (/.  c.,  1854,  p.  578) 
and  again  later,  "It  has  been  found  within  a  few  years  in  northern 
Illinois  and  appears  to  be  an  inhabitant  of  the  woods  alone"  (l.  c.,  1859, 
p.  241).  Strong  (1883)  says  it  was  found  in  Wisconsin  in  the  same 
districts  as  the  Pine  Marten  in  the  northern  and  central  portions  of 
the  state  (/.  c.,  p.  436).  Dr.  John  T.  Plummer  informs  us  that, 
previous  to  the  year  1820,  the.  Fisher  was  not  uncommon  in  Wayne 
Co.,  Indiana.* 

The  Fisher  is  largely  arboreal  in  its  habits,  climbing  trees  with 
great  facility;  but  unlike  the  Marten  it  prefers  timbered  swamps  and 
woods  near  water,  for  we  are  told  that  in  summer  frogs  form  a  not 
inconsiderable  portion  of  its  diet.  It  also  eats  fish  when  it  finds  them, 
but  the  name  of  Fisher,  by  which  it  is  popularly  known,  is  inappropriate, 
inasmuch  as  it  rarely  catches  live  fish  and  by  far  the  greater  portion  of 
its  food  consists  of  mammals,  such  as  Mice,  Hares,  Squirrels,  Porcupines, 
etc.,  varied  occasionally  by  birds  and  eggs.  That  it  does  not  confine 
itself  when  in  search  of  prey  to  animals  smaller  than  itself  is  vouched 
for  by  various  writers.  Dr.  Elliott  Coues  states  that  it  kills  the  Rac- 
coon, and  Seton  says  he  has  been  told  by  trappers  that  it  will  attack 
and  kill  Foxes. f  To  cap  the  climax  Mr.  Manly  Hardy  claims  it  has 
been  known  to  kill  a  full  grown  Deer.  He  says:  "In  spite  of  their 
small  size  and  light  weight,  Fishers  not  only  kill  Deer,  but  can  and  do 
kill  those  of  the  largest  size.  When  I  first  heard  of  this  I  doubted 
it,  but  know  now  that  they  often  do  it.  A  year  ago  last  fall,  my  old 
friend,  Louis  Ketcham,  was  following  the  track  of  a  large  buck  near 
the  head  of  Nahmakanta  Lake.  In  going  along  the  side  of  a  high 
granite  ledge  he  saw  where  the  buck  had  fallen,  and  there  was  blood 
on  the  snow.  After  stumbling  along  a  few  rods,  it  had  fallen  again, 
and  there  was  more  blood.  This  was  repeated  several  times,  and  then 
he  saw  where  the  buck  had  struck  a  Fisher  which  had  been  clinging  to 
its  neck  and  biting  it,  and  had  knocked  it  several  feet  to  one  side.  The 
Fisher  was  evidently  badly  hurt,  as  Louis  said  it  dragged  its  hind-legs, 
making  a  track  in  the  snow  like  an  Otter,  and  had  crawled  into  a  crack 
in  the  ledge.  On  going  back  he  found  that  the  Fisher  had  been  on  top 
of  the  ledge,  where  the  Deer  path  led  along  close  to  it,  and  had  sprung 
down  upon  the  Deer  and  was  trying  to  bite  the  jugular  vein.  I  have 
known  of  instances  where  they  have  been  successful  in  doing  this."t 

The  Fisher  is  one  of  the  few  animals  which  prey  habitually  upon  the 
Porcupine.  Mr.  E.  T.  Seton  says:  "George  Linklater,  for  many  years 

*Amer.  Tourn.  Sci.  and  Arts,  XLVI,  1844,  p.  246. 

t  Life  Histories  of  Northern  Animals,  II,  1909,  p.  939. 

t  Shooting  and  Fishing,  April  13,  1899,  P-  526- 


3Qo    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

a  chief  trader  for  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  at  many  different  posts, 
has  handled  hundreds  of  Fisher  pelts,  but  never  saw  one  without  some 
Porcupine  quills  in  it."  (/.  c.,  p.  943.) 

Dr.  C.  Hart  Merriam  says:  "During  a  recent  visit  to  the  north  shore 
of  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence  I  was  informed,  both  by  an  agent  of  the 
Hudson's  Bay  Company  and  by  the  trappers  themselves,  that  porcu- 
pines constitute  a  large  and  important  element  in  the  food  supply  of  the 
Pekan.  Mr.  Nap.  A.  Comeau,  of  Godbout,  who  secured  for  me  a  large 
and  handsome  male  of  this  species,  tells  me  that  its  intestine  contained 
hundreds  of  porcupine  quills,  arranged  in  clusters,  like  so  many  pack- 
ages of  needles,  throughout  its  length.  In  no  case  had  a  single  quill 
penetrated  the  mucous  lining  of  the  intestine,  but  they  were,  apparently, 
passing  along  its  interior  as  smoothly  and  surely  as  if  within  a  tube  of 
glass  or  metal."* 

Most  authorities  agree  that  the  Fisher  makes  its  nest  in  a  hollow 
tree,  usually  at  a  considerable  distance  from  the  ground,  but  it  has 
been  known  to  breed  in  hollow  logs  and  rocky  crevices.  MacFarlane 
tells  us  that  in  the  northern  Mackenzie  River  district  the  nest  is  in  a 


Map  illustrating  approximate  range  of  Mustela  pennanti  during  the  latter  part  of  the  last  century 
in  eastern  United  States  and  Canada  south  of  latitude  52°;  in  the  Northwest  its  range  extends  at  least 
to  latitude  60°.  At  the  present  time  it  is  unlikely  that  it  occurs  south  of  the  Michigan  peninsula  or 
extreme  northern  Wisconsin. 


*  Mamm.  Adirondack  Reg.,  1886,  p.  49. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  or  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        391 

hole  in  the  ground.*  Robert  Kennicott  says  it  " chooses  its  retreat 
in  the  cavity  of  a  standing  tree.  Almost  as  arboreal  as  a  squirrel,  it 
not  only  climbs  trees  and  leaps  from  bough  to  bough,  but  pursues  its 
prey  among  the  branches,  capturing  even  the  nimble  gray-squirrel. 
The  leaps  of  the  fisher  are  often  astonishing,  as  it  has  been  known  to 
spring  to  the  ground  from  the  height  of  40  feet"  (/.  c.,  p.  242). 

The  young  number  from  i  to  5  and  are  generally  born  early  in  May. 


Family  PROCYONID^.      Raccoons. 

With  the  exception  of  a  single  oriental  genusf  the  members  of  this 
family  are  confined  to  the  New  World.  All  are  of  medium  size.  In 
some  ways  they  resemble  the  Bears  and  at  one  time  were  included  in 
the  same  family.  They  are  plantigrade  animals,  practically  omniv- 
orous, and  are  at  home  both  in  trees  and  on  the  ground.  The  well 
known  Coatis,  or  Coati  Mundis  of  Tropical  America,  belong  to  the 
family,  as  well  as  the  curious  Crab-eating  Raccoon  found  in  South 
America. 

These  animals  have  two  tuberculate  molars  on  each  side  of  both 
jaws  and  the  carnassial  teeth  differ  somewhat  from  the  usual  type, 
being  broad  with  several  sharp  points  on  the  crowns.  Other  characters 
for  the  family  are  audital  bullae  somewhat  flattened  and  undivided; 
no  alisphenoid  canal  in  American  species;  condyloid  and  postglenoid 
foramina  are  present;  the  kidneys  are  simple  and  a  caecum  is  appar- 
ently absent;  the  os  penis  is  long,  the  terminal  portion  being  curved 
sharply  upward. 

Two  genera  and  seven  species  and  subspecies  are  found  in  the 
United  States,  but  only  one  occurs  within  our  limits.  In  our  species 
the  round  bushy  tail  is  marked  with  distinct  dark  rings  (annulated)  and 
the  teeth  are  40  in  number. 


Subfamily  PROCYONIN/E. 
Genus  PROCYON  Storr. 

Procyon  Storr,  Prodr.  Meth.  Mamm.,  1780,  p.  35.     Type  Ursus  lotor 

Linn. 

Head  broad;  muzzle  pointed;  tail  bushy,  cylindrical  and  annulated; 
ears  erect  and  comparatively  short;  toes  five,  on  all  feet;  soles  of  feet 

*  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  XXVIII,  1905,  p.  709. 

t  Some  authorities  also  include  the  Bear-like  genus  Aeluropus  in  this  farhily. 


392     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

naked;  feet  plantigrade;  upper  carnassial  with  three  cusps  on  outer 
margin;  molars  broad  and  tuberculate;  palate  extending  back  of  last 
molar  for  about  y$  distance  to  foramen  magnum  (more  than  ^/z  inch 
in  our  species);  a  palatal  spine  present;  bullse  somewhat  flattened  and 
extending  laterally  in  a  tubular  auditory  meatus. 

Dental  formula:  I.  ^,  C.— ,  Pm.  ±-4,  M.  —=40. 
3-3         i-i  4-4          2-2 


Skull  of  Raccoon  (Procyon  lotor). 
CAbout  Ji  nat.  size.) 

Procyon  lotor  (LINNAEUS). 
RACCOON. 

[Ursus]  lotor  LINNAEUS,  Syst.  Nat.,  X  ed.,  I,  1758,  p.  48. 

Procyon  lotor  LAPHAM,  Trans.  Wis.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  II,  1852  (1853),  p.  338  (Wis- 
consin). KENNICOTT,  Trans.  111.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  I,  1853-54  (l855).  P-  5?8 
(Cook  Co.,  Illinois).  /&.,  Agr.  Rept.  for  1858,  U.  S.  Patent  Office  Kept.,  1859, 
p.  254  (Illinois).  ALLEN,  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  XIII,  1869  (1871),  p.  184 
(Iowa).  STRONG,  Geol.  Wis.,  Surv.  1873-79,  I.  !883,  p.  437  (Wisconsin). 
HERRICK,  Geol.  &  Nat.  Hist.  Surv.  Minn.,  Bull.  No.  7,  1892,  p.  139  (Minne- 
sota). RHOADS,  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  1896  (1897),  p.  197  (Tennessee). 
SNYDER,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  II,  1902,  p.  122  (Wisconsin).  JACKSON, 
Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XX,  1907,  p.  74  (S.  W.  Missouri).  JACKSON,  Bull. 
Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  VI,  1908,  p.  29  (Wisconsin).  HAHN,  Ann.  Rept.  Dept. 
Geol.  &  Nat.  Resources  Ind.,  1908  (1909),  p.  598  (Indiana). 

Type  locality  —  Eastern  United  States. 

Distribution  —  Whole  of  the  United  States  east  of  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains (except  in  Florida)  and  north  to  southern  Ontario  and  Mani- 
toba; replaced  in  Florida  by  a  slightly  different  form. 

Description  —  Snout  pointed;  hair  thick;  general  color  grayish  or 
yellowish  gray,  the  middle  of  the  back  blackish;  face  whitish,  with 
a  black  patch  on  cheek,  which  includes  the  eye,  and  a  blackish  line 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        393 

on  middle  of  forehead;  ears  grayish  white,  becoming  dusky  at  the 

bases;  tail  thickly  haired  and  rounded,  yellowish  gray  marked  with 

several  blackish  rings. 
Measurements  —  Total  length,  variable,  but  generally  about  28  to  32 

in.  (703  to  804  mm.) ;  tail  vertebrae,  9  to  10.50  in.  (229  to  267  mm.) ; 

hind  foot,  about  4.75  in.  (120  mm.). 

The  Raccoon  is  found  throughout  our  limits  wherever  there  is  tim- 
ber, being  common  in  Illinois  and  southern  Wisconsin,  but  rather 
scarce  in  northern  Wisconsin.  It  is  properly  an  inhabitant  of  the 
woods,  especially  in  the  vicinity  of  water,  as  it  is  fond  of  frogs,  crusta- 
ceans and  other  aquatic  animals  which  are  found  along  the  shore;  but 
it  does  not  confine  itself  to  such  food  and  is  practically  omnivorous, 
devouring  mammals,  birds  and  birds'  eggs,  acorns,  fruits,  berries,  etc., 
and  its  fondness  for  green  corn  is  well  known. 

The  Raccoon  is  largely  nocturnal  in  its  habits,  but  I  have  occa- 
sionally seen  one  wandering  along  the  shores  of  ponds  and  streams  in 
the  daytime.  Its  home  is  generally  in  a  hollow  tree,  although  it  some- 
times uses  a  hollow  log  or  a  natural  cave  in  a  rocky  ledge,  and  Kenni- 
cott  claims  it  will  occasionally  use  a  deserted  burrow  made  by  another 
animal  (/.  c.,p.  255).  The  young  are  born  in  April  or  May  and  number 
from  3  to  6. 

It  is  supposed  to  hibernate  in  winter  in  the  northern  part  of  its 
range,  but  if  it  does  so,  it  is  probably  only  for  a  comparatively  short 
time  during  the  coldest  weather,  as  hunters  often  see  their  tracks  in 
the  snow. 

The  Raccoon  uses  its  fore-paws  like  hands,  and  has  a  curious  habit 
of  dipping  its  food  in  water,  as  if  washing  it  before  eating,  hence  its 
name  —  lotor  —  a  washer.  This  habit  is  very  noticeable  in  captive 
animals  of  this  species.  I  have  owned  a  number  of  Raccoons  at  various 
times  and  have  found  them  very  intelligent,  and  when  taken  young  in 
most  cases  affectionate.  One,  which  I  kept  for  several  years,  was  very 
tame  and  when  released  from  his  cage  would  follow  me  about  the 
garden,  and  when  I  sat  down  would  clamber  up  on  my  shoulder.  Upon 
being  given  a  piece  of  fish  or  meat,  he  would  waddle  over  to  a  large  pan 
of  water,  reserved  for  his  use,  and  would  dip  and  turn  his  food  about 
in  the  water  before  eating  it.  He  was  especially  fond  of  honey  and 
sugar  and  had  learned  by  experience  to  feel  in  my  pocket  for  lumps 
of  the  latter  when  I  took  him  out  for  an  airing. 

Mr.  Vernon  Bailey  describes  an  incident  which  illustrates  the 
intelligence  and  affection  shown  by  this  animal.  He  says:  "While 
watching  for  squirrels  one  morning  in  the  heavily  timbered  bottoms, 
I  heard  a  scratching  sound  from  an  old  cypress  in  the  edge  of  the 


394    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY. 


395 


swamp  near  by,  followed  by  a  loud  splash.  A  young  coon  less  than 
half  grown  had  fallen  from  the  tree  into  the  water.  At  the  sound  the 
-old  coon  and  two  more  young  ones  came  out  of  a  hollow  some  30  feet 
up  in  the  trunk  and  climbed  down  to  near  the  bottom  of  the  tree. 
They  came  down  the  tree  slowly  but  steadily,  head  first,  as  a  squirrel 
would  have  done,  with  the  hind  feet  reversed  and  slightly  divergent. 
When  the  old  coon  saw  the  young  one  climb  out  of  the  water  upon  the 
tree  trunk  she  turned  about  and  ascended  the  trunk,  followed  by  the 


Map  illustrating  approximate  distribution  of  Raccoons  in  eastern  North  America. 

Procyon    1.    (LiNN.).     Type  locality  —  Eastern    United    States.      Description    as 

previously  given. 
Procyon  1.  elucus  BANGS.       (Proc.  Bost.   Soc.   Nat.   Hist.,  XXIX,  1898,  p.  219.) 

Type  locality  —  Oak  Lodge,  opposite  Micco,  Brevard  Co.,  Florida.     General 

color  above  more  yellowish  than  lotor;  shoulder  tinged  with  yellowish  rufous; 

fur  shorter. 


396     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

three  young.  The  one  that  had  fallen,  besides  being  very  wet,  was 
slightly  hurt,  and  climbed  with  difficulty.  When  halfway  up  he  stopped 
on  a  limb  to  rest  and  began  whimpering  and  crying.  The  mother  had 
already  reached  the  hole,  but  on  hearing  his  cries  turned  about  and 
climbed  down  to  him.  Taking  a  good  hold  of  the  back  of  his  neck  and 
placing  him  between  her  fore  legs  so  that  he,  too,  could  climb,  she 
marched  him  up  the  tree  and  into  the  hollow."* 

Specimens  examined  from  Illinois  and  Wisconsin: 

Illinois  —  Joliet,  i;  Rosiclare,  Hardin  Co.,  i;  Olive  Branch,  Alexander 
Co.,  3;  Chicago,  i;  "Illinois"  (melanistic) ,  1  =  7. 

Wisconsin  —  "Wisconsin"  (albino),  i;  (M.  P.  M.)  Milwaukee,  i; 
Prescott,  Pierce  Co.,  i;  Waukesha,  2;  Prairie  du  Sac,  i;  Roxbury 
Dam,  3;  Maiden  Rock,  2;  Pewaukee,  i;  (O.  C.,  skulls)  Gordon, 
Douglas  Co.,  6;  Waterford,  Racine  Co.,  i;  Barren  Co.,  i;  Wau- 
kesha Co.,  i;  Langlade  Co.,  i;  Pewaukee,  Waukesha  Co.,  3;  (S.  C.) 
Beaver  Dam,  Dodge  Co.,  4;  (O.)  Lake  Geneva,  Walworth  Co.,  i  =  30. 


Family  URSID^E.      Bears. 

Bears  are  widely  distributed  throughout  the  world,  but  are  absent 
in  the  Ethiopian  and  Australian  regions.  They  are  plantigrade  ani- 
mals and  practically  omnivorous.  The  majority  of  the  species  belong- 
ing to  this  family  are  large  animals,  one  of  them,  which  is  found  in 
Alaska,  being  the  largest  known  member  of  the  order.  The  toes  are 
armed  with  strong  claws,  long  and  but  slightly  curved  in  the  so-called 
Grizzly  Bears  in  North  America;  and  sharper,  shorter  and  more  curved 
in  our  Black  Bears.  The  teeth  are  large,  the  molars  having  flattened, 
tubercular  crowns.  The  fourth  upper  premolar  (carnassial)  is  smaller 
than  the  first  molar  and  lacks  the  third  inner  root.  It  differs  from  the 
usual  type,  the  crown  being  broad  with  elongated  cusps.  The  caecum 
is  absent  and  there  are  four  mammas,  all  pectoral;  the  kidneys  are 
lobate. 

Other  characters  for  this  family  are:  all  feet  with  five  toes;  palms 
of  feet  naked  (except  the  Polar  Bear,  T.  maritimus) ;  tail  very  short; 
audital  bullse  flattened  and  undivided ;  condyloid  and  glenoid  foramina 
distinct;  alisphenoid  canal  present  in  American  species;  molars,  — . 

O    O 

Bears  hibernate  to  a  more  or  less  extent  in  North  America,  even 
*  N.  Amer.  Fauna,  No.  25,  1905,  p.  194. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        397 

the  species  which  is  found  in  Florida  continuing  the  habit  when  the 
occasion  for  it  no  longer  exists.* 

Two  genera  and  some  fifteen  species  and  subspecies  are  found  in 
North  America,  but  only  one,  the  Black  Bear,  Ursus  americanus, 
occurs  within  our  limits. 


Genus  URSUS  Linnaeus. 

Ursus  Linnaeus,  Syst.  Nat.,  X  ed.,  I,  1758,  p.  47.     Type  Ursus  arctos 

Linn. 

Size  large;  feet  plantigrade;  claws  not  retractile;  toes  5  on  both 
fore  and  hind  feet;  tail  very  short;  true  molars  with  broad  tuberculate 
crowns;  upper  carnassial  smaller  than  ist  molar,  having  a  broad  crown 
with  elongated  cusps;  audital  bullae  depressed  and  but  very  slightly  in- 
flated; color  of  our  species  black  or  brown. 

Dental  formula:  I.  ^^,  C.  ^—  ^>  Pm.  ^4  M.  2—  =  42. 
3-3         I--1  4-4          3-3 

Subgenus  EU  ARCTOS  Gray. 

Ursus  americanus  PALLAS. 

BLACK  BEAR. 

Ursus  americanus  PALLAS,  Spicilegia  Zoologica,  fasc.  14,  1780,  p.  5.  LAPHAM, 
Trans.  Wis.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  II,  1852  (1853),  p.  338  (Wisconsin).  KENNICOTT, 
Trans.  111.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  I,  1853-54  (1855),  p.  578  (Cook  Co.,  Illinois).  Ib., 
Agr.  Rept.  for  1858,  U.  S.  Patent  Office  Rept.,  1859,  p.  251  (Illinois).  THOMAS, 
Trans.  111.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  IV,  1859-60  (1861),  p.  655  (Illinois).  STRONG, 
Geol.  Wis.,  Surv.  1873-79,  I,  1883,  p.  437  (Wisconsin).  HERRICK,  Geol. 
Nat.  Hist.  Surv.  Minn.,  Bull.  No.  7,  1892,  p.  140  (Minnesota).  EVERMANN  & 
BUTLER,  Proc.  Ind.  Acad.  Sci.,  1893  (1894),  p.  136  (Indiana).  BUTLER,  Proc.  Ind. 
Acad.  Sci.,  1894  (1895),  p.  84  (Indiana).  RHOADS,  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila., 
1896  (1897),  p.  199  (Tennessee).  ADAMS,  Rept.  State  Board  Geol.  Surv.  Mich., 
J905  (1906),  p.  130  (Michigan).  HAHN,  Ann.  Rept.  Dept.  Geol.  &  Nat.  Re- 
sources Ind.,  1908  (1909),  p.  592  (Indiana).  JACKSON,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist. 
Soc.,  VI,  1908,  p.  30  (Wisconsin).  Ib.,  VIII,  1910,  p.  89  (Wisconsin). 

Ursus  americana  MILES,  Rept.  Geol.  Surv.  Mich.,  I,  1860  (1861),  p.  220  (Michigan). 
GARMAN,  Bull.  Essex  Inst.,  XXVI,  1894,  p.  3  (Kentucky). 

Ursus  arctos  ALLEN,  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  XIII,  1869  (1871),  p.  184  (Iowa). 
OSBORN,  Proc.  Iowa  Acad.  Sci.,  I,  1887-89  (1890),  p.  42  (Iowa). 

Ursus  cinnamomum  STRONG,  Geol.  Wis.,  Surv.  1873-79,  I>  l^3>  p.  437  (Wisconsin). 


*  The  Florida  Black  Bear  retires  into  its  den  early  in  January  and  hibernates 
until  about  the  first  of  March.  That  this  habit  is  due  to  hereditary  instinct  and  not 
to  climatic  conditions  or  lack  of  food  is  suggested  by  the  fact  that  in  southeastern 
Florida  the  weather  is  warm  and  the  berries  of  the  palmetto  (Serenoa  serrulata),  which 
are  a  favorite  food  of  these  animals,  are  still  very  abundant  at  that  season. 


398     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

Type  locality  —  Eastern  North  America. 

Distribution  —  Practically  the  whole  of  North  America,  from  Texas 
to  Labrador  and  Alaska;  replaced  in  the  Gulf  States,  Labrador, 
and  the  extreme  West  and  Northwest  by  allied  forms. 
Description  —  Size   large ;   body   thickly   furred ;    general   color   black 
(sometimes  brown),  often  with  a  white  spot  on  the  breast;  ears 
rounded;  face"  tinged  with  cinnamon  brown  or  tan  brown. 
Measurements  —  Size  variable ;  adult  males  from  Wisconsin  will  general- 
ly weigh  from  250  to  350  Ibs.  and  have  a  total  length  of  from  60  to 
70  inches;  height  at  the  shoulder,  about  30  inches;  tail,  about  5 
inches;  and  hind  foot,  about  8  inches. 

Up  to  the  middle  of  the  last  century  Black  Bears  were  common 
in  wooded  localities  in  Illinois,  and  probably  a  few  individuals  sur- 
vived in  the  northwestern  and  southern  parts  of  the  state  to  a  con- 
siderably later  date.  There  have  been  rumors  of  Bears  having  been 
seen  in  the  swampy  country  in  extreme  southern  Illinois  as  late  as  1885 
or  1890,  but  the  evidence  is  unsatisfactory.  The  latest  authentic 
record  I  can  find  for  Illinois  is  that  of  Mr.  C.  J.  Boyd  of  Anna,  who 
writes:  "The  last  Bear  was  killed  by  David  Brown  in  1860  in  the 
hills  near  Alexander  Co."  Kennicott  (1854)  states  that  Bears  were 
formerly  seen  in  Cook  Co.  (1.  c.,  p.  578);  and  Thomas  (1859)  says, 
"It  is  occasionally  seen  in  the  southern  part  of  the  state,  although  once 
found  in  considerable  numbers"  (7.  c.,  p.  656).  So  much  for  Illinois. 

According  to  Hahn  it  was  found  in  Indiana  at  a  somewhat  later 
date,  as  he  records  one  being  killed  in  Green  County  in  1870  and  another 
in  1875.  Two  young  Bears  were  reported  killed  in  Knox  Co.,  Indiana, 
in  1882  (I.  c.,  p.  594).  That  they  were  common  enough  in  the  state  in 
early  days  is  shown  by  the  statement  of  Dr.  John  T.  Plummer,  who. 
informs  us  Bears  were  killed  in  the  immediate  neighborhood  of  Rich- 
mond, Wayne  Co.,  and  in  the  year  1824  some  cubs  were  taken  within 
a  mile  of  the  town.* 

Black  Bears  are,  however,  still  common  in  northern  Wisconsin. 
Jackson  says:  "Black  Bears  have  reappeared  in  Oneida  County  since 
1907  and  are  reported  more  plentiful  in  Vilas  County.  In  late  June, 
1908,  a  female  and  two  cubs  were  killed  near  Wolf  Lake,  Oneida  Co. 
and  there  have  been  reports  of  others  seen  in  the  region  nearby"  (I.  c., 
p.  89).  ^ 

During  the  past  six  years  I  have  made  inquiries  of  a  number  of 

gentlemen  living  in  various  parts  of  northern  Wisconsin  as  to  the 

presence  or  absence  of  some  of  the  larger  mammals  in  their  vicinity. 

Many  of  them  are  experienced  hunters  and  are  well  acquainted  with 

*  Amer.  Jour.  Sci.  &  Arts,  XLVI,  1844,  p.  246. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        399 


400    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

the  animals  in  question.  Others,  who  do  not  hunt  themselves,  were 
kind  enough  to  secure  the  desired  information  from  hunters  and  trap- 
pers in  their  vicinity.  In  a  number  of  cases  my  correspondents  claim 
that  Bears  are  more  plentiful  than  formerly,  as,  for  example,  to  cite  one 
of  many,  Mr.  W.  J.  Webster,  Superintendent  of  Schools,  Park  Falls, 
Price  Co.,  under  date  of  January  13,  1910,  writes,  "Several  Bears 
have  been  killed  here;  they  are  more  numerous  the  past  few  years." 

I  am  reliably  informed  that  Bears  were  killed  in  the  following 
counties  in  Wisconsin  during  the  years  1908,  1909,  1910:  Florence  Co. 
(J.  E.  Parry,  Florence);  Marinette  Co.  (J.  Stovekere,  Jr.,  Pembine; 
L.  Johnson,  Beaver;  G.  A.  Williams,  Kremlin);  Oneida  Co.  (J.  Dapres, 
Hazelhurst);  Marathon  Co.  (G.  F.  Erzwein,  Athens);  Oconto  Co. 
(E.  Phenney,  Oconto  Falls);  Buffalo  Co.  (J.  Bream,  Cream;  E.  F. 
Ganz,  Alma);  Vilas  Co.  (N.  L.  Kinney,  Eagle  River);  Taylor  Co. 
(J.  Hobbs,  and  C.  W.  Benn,  Medford) ;  Price  Co.  (W.  J.  Webster,  Park 
Falls;  F.  J.  Suiter,  Prentice) ;  Bayfield  Co.  (H.  Feltz,  Bayfield;  M.  Berg, 
Cable;  E.  J.  Carter,  Drummond;  B.  P.  Hill,  Bayfield);  Burnett  Co. 
("There  are  four  or  five  Bears  killed  here  every  year" —  O.  Erickson, 
Grantsburg;  L.  Larson,  Oakland);  Rusk  Co.  (F.  E.  Munroe,  Lady- 
smith);  Douglas  Co.  (D.  Farnham,  Manley;  N.  Lucins,  Jr.,  Solon 
Springs;  G.  W.  Zeon,  Foxboro);  Iron  Co.  (J.  Ball,  Sandrock;  J.  Miller, 
Cedar). 

To  the  above  I  may  add  the  following  records  which  I  find  in  my 
note  book  for  1907:  Male  killed  Sept.  14,  1906,  Hazelhurst,  Oneida  Co. 
(J.  Dapres).  Bear  killed  June,  1906,  near  Pembine,  Marinette  Co. 
(J.  Stovekere).  Bear  killed  December  22,  1906,  Oconto  Falls,  Oconto 
Co.  (E.  Phenney).  Two  Bears  killed  October,  1906,  Eagle  River, 
Vilas  Co.  (N.  L.  Kinney).  Bear  killed  October  5,  1906,  Medford, 
Taylor  Co.  (J.  Hobbs).  "Several  Bears  killed  in  this  vicinity  in  1906; 
one  killed  February  14,  1907,"  Bayfield,  Bayfield  Co.  (H.  Feltz).  "A 
Bear  was  killed  in  this  county  in  the  summer  of  1906."  (C.  E.  Brown, 
Hamilton,  Fond  du  Lac  Co.).  In  the  winter  of  1909  two  Bears  were 
offered  for  sale  in  a  Chicago  market,  one  of  which  I  was  informed 
came  from  Washburn  County  and  the  other  was  said  to  have  been 
killed  in  Polk  County. 

The  above  records  show  that  at  the  present  time  Black  Bears  are 
pretty  well  distributed  throughout  the  northern  half  of  Wisconsin; 
the  one  reported  killed  in  Fond  du  Lac  County  may  have  been  a  strag- 
gler, or  originally  a  tame  animal. 

The  Black  Bear  is  naturally  an  inhabitant  of  the  forest,  although 
in  his  wanderings  he  may  often  be  found  in  open  valleys  and  hills,  es- 
pecially in  the  berry  season.  He  is  one  of  the  most  omnivorous  of  our 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.       401 

flesh  eaters  and  his  varied  diet  includes  mammals  ranging  from  Mice 
to  Sheep  and  young  cattle,  as  well  as  birds,  fish,  frogs,  insects,  berries 
of  various  kinds  and,  in  fact,  almost  anything  edible.  He  is  extremely 
partial  to  honey,  and  unlike  the  Grizzly  Bear,  he  is  a  good  tree  climber, 
and  is  generally  able  to  rob  a  bee  tree  whenever  he  finds  one.  He 
tears  open  old  rotten  stumps  and  turns  over  logs  and  rocks  in  search 
of  grubs  and  ants  of  which  he  seems  to  be  particularly  fond.  In  the 
berry  season,  when  berries  form  a  not  inconsiderable  part  of  his 
diet,  he  may  be  looked  for  in  localities  where  they  are  plentiful,  and 
although  a  nocturnal  animal,  may  be  seen  occasionally  in  the  day- 
time on  open  hillsides  indulging  his  taste  for  them. 

Notwithstanding  the  popular  opinion  to  the  contrary,  the  Black 
Bear  is  a  shy  animal  and  unless  badly  wounded  will  rarely  attack  man. 
I  have  killed  seventeen  Black  Bears  in  different  parts  of  the  United 
States  and  have  never  had  one  charge  or  show  fight,  except  when 
badly  wounded  and  unable  to  run  away.  At  such  times  they  are 
undoubtedly  more  or  less  dangerous,  as  almost  any  wild  animal  would 
be  when  cornered  and  desperate.  I  have  never  shot  a  female  with 
cubs ;  but  there  is  little  doubt  that  she  will  fight  to  protect  them,  espe- 
cially if  they  are  very  young. 

The  Black  Bear  hibernates  in  winter;*  in  fact,  it  does  so  to  a  more 
or  less  degree  throughout  its  range  without  regard  to  temperature, 
although  the  scarcity  of  food  during  the  cold  months  was  probably 
the  primary  cause  of  the  development  of  the  habit  in  these  animals. 
The  length  of  its  sleep  varies  in  different  parts  of  the  country,  being 
undoubtedly  influenced  by  temperature  to  that  extent.  In  the  more 
southern  portion  of  its  range  its  sleep  is  not  profound  and  in  the  case 
of  the  Florida  Bear,  as  I  know  from  personal  experience,  they  are 
easily  disturbed. 

The  den  is  usually  an  excavation  under  some  log  or  hollow  in  a 
large  tree  and,  when  available,  a  natural  cave  is  often  used.  The 
young  are  born  late  in  January,  or  early  in  February,  in  this  latitude, 
and  number  from  i  to  4,  the  usual  number  being  two.  They  are  very 
small  at  birth  in  comparison  with  the  size  of  the  mother,  measuring 
from  8  to  10  inches  in  length  and  rarely  exceeding  a  pound  in  weight, 
the  average  weight  being  considerably  less. 

The  flesh  of  the  young  Bear  is  tender  and  palatable,  but  that  of  an 
old  one  is  coarse  and  usually  very  tough.  The  oil  from  the  fat  is,  in 
my  opinion,  much  better  than  lard  for  frying  purposes,  as  the  flavor  is 
delicate,  and  in  culinary  phraseology  "it  does  not  burn." 

*  This  peculiar  physiological  condition  has  already  been  discussed  in  connection 
with  other  mammals.  See  pages  142  and  250;  also  Index. 


402     FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 

To  hunt  Bears  successfully  dogs  are  absolutely  essential,  and  unless 
one  is  a  trained  athlete  the  country  must  be  sufficiently  open  to  permit 
of  the  use  of  horses  to  follow  the  hounds  for  at  least  a  considerable 
portion  of  the  time.  In  a  heavily  wooded,  rough  country  shooting  a 
Bear  is  largely  a  matter  of  chance ;  their  senses  of  smell  and  hearing  are 
so  exceedingly  keen  that  one  may  hunt  for  weeks  in  a  good  Bear  coun- 
try and  not  see  one.  Of  course,  they  can  be  trapped;  but  unless  there 
is  some  good  reason  for  desiring  the  death  of  the  animal  it  is  a  cruel 
and  unsportsman-like  method. 

Good  Bear  dogs  are  not  easy  to  find.  It  is  a  curious  fact  that 
while  almost  any  hound  will  eagerly  follow  the  trail  of  a  Panther,  a 
very  small  percentage  of  them  will  follow  that  of  a  Bear.  I  have  found 
that  the  best  Bear  dogs  were  generally  a  cross  between  a  hound  and  a 
bull  dog.  Occasionally  a  full  blooded  hound  will  follow  a  Bear,  but 
judging  from  my  experience,  except  when  in  company  with  a  number 
of  other  dogs,  such  cases  are  rare.  The  perfect  Bear  dog  is  one  that 
will  follow  the  trail  until  he  sees  the  animal  and  then  worry  and  "bay" 
him  until  the  hunter  can  come  up  to  them,  but  he  must  be  wise  enough 
not  to  get  within  reach  of  the  Bear's  paws.  If  he  has  too  much  courage 
and  is  reckless,  he  is  killed  or  badly  injured,  but  on  the  other  hand,  if 
he  lacks  the  proper  amount  of  courage,  he  will  not  follow  the  trail  at 
all. 

In  Wisconsin  a  full  grown  Bear  will  usually  weigh  from  250  to  350 
pounds.  The  latter  would  be  considered  a  large  animal  for  this  part 
of  the  country,  but  the  southern  races  of  the  Black  Bear  grow  much 
larger.  In  Florida  and  Louisiana  a  male  weighing  500  pounds,  while 
larger  than  the  average,  is  by  no  means  uncommon  and,  although  I 
have  never  actually  weighed  a  Florida  Bear  that  tipped  the  scales 
at  more  than  511  pounds,*  I  have  killed  larger  animals,  one  of  which  I 
estimated  to  weigh  nearly  600  pounds. 

Brown  Bears,  which  may  be  found  within  our  limits,  are  merely 
color  phases  of  the  Black  Bear,  black  and  brown  cubs  having  been 
found  in  the  same  litter.f 

When  taken  young  and  kindly  treated,  Bear  cubs  make  very  amusing 
pets,  as  they  are  intelligent  and  playful;  but  as  they  grow  up,  their 
play  is  inclined  to  be  rather  too  rough.  If  teased  or  irritated,  however, 
they  soon  become  treacherous. 

During  the  seventeenth  century  Black  Bears  were  very  numerous 
throughout  New  England  and  their  "grease"  was  much  used  by  early 

*  The  two  largest  males  weighed  489  and  5 1 1  pounds. 

fSee  Kennicott,  /.  c.,  p.  253;  also  Journals  of  Alex.  Henry  and  David  Thomp- 
son. (Edited  by  Elliott  Coues.)  1897,  p.  449. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        403 

settlers  as  a  cure  for  various  ailments,  such  as  rheumatism,  sprains,  etc. 
Many  curious  tales  concerning  them  are  told  by  early  writers,  the 
following  being  examples. 


Map  illustrating  the  approximate  distribution  of  Black  Bears  in  eastern  United  States  and  Can- 
ada south  of  latitude  52. 


Ursus  americanus  PALLAS.     Type  locality  —  Eastern  United  States.     Description 

as  previously  given. 
Ursus  a.  sornborgeri  BANGS.     (Amer.  Nat.,  XXXII,  1898,  p.  500.)     Type  locality 

—  Okak,  Labrador.     "Skull  smaller,  shorter  and  broader"  (Bangs). 
Ursus    luteolus    GRIFFITH.     (Carniv.    Anim.,    1821,    p.    236.)     Type    locality  — 

Louisiana.     A  large  form  with  heavier  dentition;  forehead  flattened. 
Ursus  floridanus  MERRIAM.     (Proc.   Biol.   Soc.   Wash.,   X,    1896,  p.  81.)     Type 

locality  —  Key  Biscayne,  Dade  Co.,  Florida.     As  large  or  larger  than  luteolus; 

color  entirely  black;  forehead  elevated. 


404    FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 

Josselyn  says:  "The  Bear  they  live  four  months  in  Caves,  that  is 
all  Winter;  in  the  spring  they  bring  forth  their  young  ones,  they  seldom 
have  above  three  Cubbs  in  a  litter,  are  very  fat  in  the  Fall  of  the  Leaf 
with  feeding  upon  Acorns,  at  which  time  they  are  excellent  Venison; 
their  Brains  are  venemous;  They  feed  much  upon  water  Plantane  in 
the  Spring  and  Summer,  and  Berries,  and  also  upon  a  shell-fish  called 
a  Horse-foot;  and  are  never  mankind,  i.  e.,  fierce,  but  in  rutting  time, 
and  then  they  walk  the  Country  twenty,  thirty,  forty  in  a  Company, 
making  a  hedius  noise  with  roaring,  which  you  may  hear  a  mile  or 
two  before  they  come  so  near  to  endanger  the  Traveller."* 

Wood  writes:  "Most  fierce  in  strawberry-time  at  which  time  they 
have  young  ones;  at  which  time  likewise,  they  will  go  upright,  like  a 
man,  and  climb  trees,  and  swim  to  the  islands;  which  if  the  Indians  see, 
there  will  be  more  sportful  bear-baiting  than  Paris  garden  can  afford; 
for,  seeing  the  bears  take  water,  an  Indian  will  leap  after  him;  where 
they  go  to  water-cuffs  for  bloody  noses  and  scratched  sides.  In  the 
end,  the  man  gets  the  victory;  riding  the  bear  over  the  watery  plain, 
till  he  can  bear  him  no  longer,  "f 

Specimens  examined  from  Wisconsin  and  adjoining  states: 
Wisconsin — "Northern  Wisconsin,"  3;  (O.  C.)  Price  Co.  (skulls),  2; 
•     (S.  C.)  Cayuga,  Ashland  Co.  (skull),  i;  (O.)  Washburn  Co.,  i;  Polk 

Co.,  1  =  8. 

Michigan  —  Park  Siding,  Iron  Co.  (skull),  i. 
Minnesota  —  (brown  phase),  2. 

*  New  England  Rarities,  1672,  p.  48. 
f  New  England's  Prospects,  1634,  p.  16. 


ORDER  INSECTIVORA. 
INSECT    EATERS. 

Representatives  of  this  large  order  are  found  throughout  the  greater 
portion  of  the  temperate  and  tropical  world,  except,  so  far  as  known,  in 
Australia  and  South  America.  All  of  its  members  are  comparatively 
small  animals.  The  greater  number  are  terrestrial,  although  a  few 
are  arboreal  and  others  natatorial.  They  are  nearly  all  of  them  noc- 
turnal animals;  some  are  covered  with  spines,  but  the  majority  are 
thickly  furred.  They  are  largely,  but  by  no  means  strictly,  insectiv- 
orous ;  most  of  our  species  eat  great  numbers  of  earth-worms  and  young 
Mice  when  they  can  get  them;  while  some  species,  like  the  European 
Hedgehog,  have  such  a  varied  diet  as  to  be  practically  omnivorous. 

While  in  all  known  species,  incisors,  canines,  premolars  and  molars 
are  present,  most  of  them  are  not  clearly  differentiated  and  for  conve- 
nience all  single  pointed  teeth  are  called  unicuspids.  The  number  of 
teeth  varies  in  different  species,  some  having  as  high  as  44.  In  our 
Shrews  belonging  to  the  subfamily  Soricince  the  ends  of  the  teeth  are 
colored  red,  while  in  the  Crocidurince,  and  Old  World  subfamily,  the 
teeth  are  entirely  white.  There  seems  to  be  a  tendency  in  many  of 
the  members  of  this  order  towards  the  disappearance  of  milk  teeth. 
In  the  species  belonging  to  the  genus  Sorex,  for  example,  there  are  but 
seven  milk  teeth  and  none  of  them  ever  become  functional.  These 
animals  are  characterized  by  having  an  elongated  snout,  with  the  upper 
lip  extending  considerably  beyond  the  lower;  clavicles  are  present  in 
all  except  the  peculiar  African  genus  Potamogale.  The  position  of 
the  mammary  glands  and  number  of  teats  vary  in  different  species. 
The  uterus  is  bicornate  and  the  placenta  discoidal  and  deciduous.  The 
caecum  is  absent  in  our  species.  The  majority  possess  glands  contain- 
ing a  strong,  disagreeable,  musky  secretion,  which  is  supposed  to  be 
a  means  of  protection,  as  it  is  claimed  carnivorous  mammals  will 
rarely  eat  them.  The  location  of  these  glands  varies  in  different  species ; 
in  our  Shrews  they  are  usually  located  on  the  sides  of  the  body  behind 
the  axilla.  The  toes  are  armed  with  claws  which  in  many  species  are 
highly  developed  for  digging.  Shrews  do  not  hibernate  and  are  active 
all  winter. 

On  the  North  American  continent  the  order  is  represented  by  two 
families:  Soricida,  Shrews,  and  Talpidce,  Moles,  comprising  more  than 

405 


406     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

a  hundred  species  and  subspecies;  while  a  third  family  (Solenodontida) 
occurs  in  the  West  Indies.  Eleven  species  and  subspecies  belonging 
to  5  genera,  including  representatives  of  both  of  our  continental  families, 
are  found  within  our  limits. 


Suborder  INSECTIVORA    VERA. 

KEY   TO   THE   FAMILIES 
REPRESENTATIVES  OF   WHICH   OCCUR  WITHIN   OUR  LIMITS. 

A.  Length  from  nose  to  root  of  tail  more  than  4  inches;  fore  feet  modified  for  digging, 

very  large  and  strikingly  different  from  hind  feet;  no  external  ear;  ends  of 
teeth  not  red;  zygomata  present.  Family  TALPID^E.     Moles,  p.  433. 

B.  Length  from  nose  to  root  of  tail  less  than  4  inches;  fore  feet  not  noticeably  large; 

external  ear  present,  although  small  and  often  concealed  by  fur;  ends  of  teeth 
red;  zygomata  absent.  Family  SORICID.55.     Shrews,  p.  406. 


Family   SORICID^.        Shrews. 

Members  of  this  family  are  distributed  throughout  the  northern 
hemisphere,  except  in    high    latitudes.     They    are    small,    terrestrial 

mammals  (rarely  aquatic),  somewhat  resem- 
bling a  Mouse,  but  having  a  long  pointed 
snout;  the  upper  lip  projects  considerably 
beyond  the  lower;  very  small  eyes  and  very 
small  external  ears  which  are  often  con- 
cealed by  fur.  Their  bodies  are  covered 
with  thick,  soft  fur.  The  tibia  and  fibula 
skull  of  a  shrew  (Sorex).  are  united;  zygomata  are  absent  and  the 

(r/nlarged.)  •        J  ° 

tympanic  bone  is  shaped   like   a   ring   and 

does  not  form  a  bulla.  The  milk  teeth  are  functionless  and  absorbed 
without  appearing  above  the  gum.  The  cusps  on  the  upper  molars 
may  be  described  as  resembling  the  letter  W.  There  is  no  caecum. 
Their  food  consists  principally  of  insects  and  worms,  and  it  is  claimed 
that  some  species  occasionally  eat  nuts.  They  are  distinctly  pugna- 
cious and  when  opportunity  occurs  will  attack,  kill  and  eat  small  mam- 
mals, such  as  Mice. 

In  writing  of  Old  World  Shrews,  Edward  Topsell  says:*  "It  is  a 

*  Historie  of  Foure  Footed  Beastes,  London,  1607,  p.  536. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        407 

ravening  beast  feygning  it  selfe  to  be  gentle  and  tame,  but  being  touched 
it  biteth  deepe,  and  poisoneth  deadly.  It  beareth  a  cruell  minde,  de- 
siring to  hurt  anything  neither  is  there  any  creature  that  it  loveth,  or 
it  loveth  him,  because  it  is  feared  of  all.  The  Cats  as  we  have  said 
do  hunt  it,  and  kill  it,  but  they  eat  not  them." 

Shrews  were  held  sacred  in  Egypt  from  their  supposed  blindness, 
being  regarded  as  an  emblem  of  primal  night  and  darkness.  Herodotus 
states  that  the  City  of  Buto  was  a  place  of  sacred  sepulture  for  these 
animals  and  according  to  Pettigrew  specimens  of  mummied  Shrews 
(Sorex)  have  been  found  at  Thebes.* 

Three  genera  and  some  75  or  more  species  and  subspecies  are  found 
in  North  America : 

KEY  TO   OUR  GENERA. 

GROUP  1.     Tail  decidedly  more  than  %  total  length;  ears  visible. 

SECTION  I.  More  than  3  unicuspid  teeth,  large  enough  to  be  readily  seen  on 

each  side  of  upper  jaw. 

Hind  foot  not  fringed.  Genus  SOREX,  p.  410. 

Hind  foot  fringed.  Genus  NEOSOREX,  p.  420. 

SECTION  2.  Only  3  unicuspid  teeth,  large  enough  to  be  readily  seen  on  each 

side  of  upper  jaw;  size  small.  Genus  MICROSOREX,  p.  418. 

GROUP  2.  Tail  less  than  %  total  length;  ears  hidden  by  fur. 

Genus  BLARINA,  p.  422. 

English  naturalists  tell  us  that  these  little  animals  have  always 
been  the  subject  of  many  foolish  superstitions  in  Europe,  one  of  the 
most  popular  being  the  belief  that,  if  a  Shrew  ran  over  the  foot  of  a 
beast  or  a  man  (in  the  case  of  the  latter  shoe  leather  seems  to  have  been 
no  protection),  it  would  cause  serious  lameness  and  often  much  suffer- 
ing. Luckily  immediate  relief  could  always  be  obtained  by  touching 
the  unfortunate  victim  with  the  twig  "Shrew-ash."  To  prepare  this 
wonderful  remedy  a  hole  was  bored  in  a  tree  and  in  it  was  placed  the 
twig  of  an  ash  tree  and  a  live  Shrew,  the  opening  being  then  sealed  up. 
When  the  twig  was  thoroughly  medicated  it  was  removed,  and  was 
supposed  to  retain  its  curative  power  for  an  indefinite  period. 

*  Hist.  Egyptian  Mummies,  1834,  p.  195. 


408     FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 


Blarina  brevicauda. 


Blarina   brevicauda  carolinensis. 


Blarina  parva. 


Sorex  longirostris. 


Sorex  personalus. 


Sorex  fumeus. 


Sorex  richardsonii. 


Microsorex  hoyi. 


Neosorex  palustris. 


Upper  Jaws  and  Teeth  of  Shrews,  greatly  enlarged.  (After  Merriam.) 

There  is  a  surprising  difference  in  the  shape  and  size  of  both  the  skulls  and  the  teeth  in  old  and 
young  Shrews  of  the  same  species,  and,  when  comparing  skulls  for  the  purpose  of  identification,  the 
student  should  select  specimens  of  about  the  same  age. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  or  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        409 
KEY  TO   THE   SPECIES. 

GROUP  1.  Short- tailed  Shrews.     Ears  completely  concealed  by  fur;  tail  not  ex- 
ceeding one  inch  in  length,  usually  decidedly  less  and  always  less  than  % 
total  length  (nose  to  tip  of  tail). 
SECTION  1.  Total  length  more  than  3.60  inches. 

General  color  dusky  slate  color,  under  parts  only  slightly  paler;  teeth  32; 
four  well  developed  unicuspid  teeth,  first  two  longer  than  third  and 
fourth,  the  third  and  fourth  about  equal;  total  length  about  5 
inches,  averaging  a  little  less;  occurs  in  northern  Illinois  and  Wisconsin. 

SHORT-TAILED  SHREW  OR  MOLE  SHREW. 
Blarina  brevicauda,  p.  423. 

Similar  to  brevicauda  but  smaller;  back  sometimes  faintly  washed  with 
brown;  teeth  32;  total  length  about  4  inches;  occurs  from  central 
Illinois  southward.  CAROLINA  SHORT-TAILED  SHREW. 

Blarina  b.  carolinensis,  p.  428. 
SECTION  2.  Total  length  less  than  3.60  inches. 

Brown  or  iron-gray  above,  ashy  on  under  parts;  teeth  30;  fourth  upper  uni- 
cuspid exceedingly  small  and  apparently  absent,  difficult  to  see 
without  a  good  lens  and  rarely  visible  from  outside;  occurs  in  Illinois 
but  not  in  Wisconsin.  SMALL  SHORT-TAILED  SHREW. 

Blarina  parva,  p.  430. 

GROUP  2.  Long-tailed  Shrews.*  Ears  very  small  but  visible,  being  not  entirely 
concealed  by  fur;  tail  more  than  one  inch  in  length  and  always  more  than 
J4  total  length. 

SECTION  1.  Total  length  less  than  5.25  inches;  feet  not  fringed. 
PART.  1.     Total  length  less  than  4  inches. 

Upper  parts  dull  chestnut-brown,  approaching  sepia  brown;  under  parts 
ashy  gray,  often  washed  with  pale  drab  brown;  tail  usually  less  than 
1.38  in.  (35  mm.);  hind  foot  .43  in.  or  less  (n  mm.);  third  unicuspid 
tooth  smaller  than  the  fourth.  CAROLINA  SHREW. 

Sorex  longirostris,  p.  416. 

Upper  parts  approaching  sepia  brown;  under  parts  ashy,  gray  or  brownish 
ash;  tail  usually  more  than  1.38  in.  (35  mm.);  hind  foot  about  .47  in. 
(12  mm.);  third  unicuspid  tooth  not  noticeably  smaller  than  the 
fourth.  COMMON  SHREW.  Sorex  personatus,  p.  — - 

Upper  parts  approaching  sepia  brown;  under  parts  ashy  gray  or  pale 
brownish  gray,  often  washed  with  buff  on  throat  and  breast;  tail 
less  than  1.38  in.  (35  mm.);  hind  foot  .43  in.  or  less  (n  mm.);  appar- 
ently only  3  unicuspid  teeth  present,  the  1st,  2d  and  4th,  the  third 
being  so  small  and  concealed  between  the  others  as  to  be  seen  with 
more  or  less  difficulty  (cannot  be  seen  at  all  without  the  aid  of  a  strong 
lens);  "a  distinct  secondary  cusp  on  the  inner  side  of  the  canine  and 
second  and  third  upper  incisors"  (Miller);  occurs  in  Wisconsin  and 
probably  in  extreme  northern  Illinois.  HOY'S  SHREW. 

Microsorex  hoyi,  p.  418. 

*  In  all  our  Shrews  the  tail  would  be  considered  short.  These  are  called  Long- 
tailed  Shrews  only  by  comparison  with  the  very  short-tailed  species  belonging  to 
the  genus  Blarina. 


410    FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 

PART  2.  Total  length  more  than  4  inches  but  less  than  5. 

Upper  parts  approaching  sepia  brown ;  under  parts  ashy,  gray  or  brownish 
ash;  tail  more  than  1.38  in.  (35  mm.);  3d  unicuspid  not  smaller  than 
4th;  hind  foot  about  .47  in.  (12  mm.);  total  length  about  4  inches; 
occurs  in  Illinois  and  Wisconsin.  COMMON  SHREW. 

Sorex  personatus,  p.  411. 

Back  about  same  color  as  sides ;  upper  parts  dark  slaty  plumbeous ;  under 
parts  slightly  paler  and  washed  with  ashy ;  third  unicuspid  not  smaller 
than  the  fourth,  usually  slightly  larger.  The  animal  appears  nearly 
uniform  in  color,  although  slightly  paler  on  under  parts;  a  brown 
pelage  occurs  in  which  the  pelage  is  everywhere  chestnut  brown, 
somewhat  paler  on  the  under  parts;  found  in  Wisconsin  and  perhaps 
extreme  northern  Illinois.  SMOKY  SHREW.  Sorex  fumeus,  p.  415. 

Color  of  back  noticeably  different  from  the  sides;  back  very  dark  brown; 
sides  fulvous  brown  or  buffy  brown;  under  parts  ashy  plumbeous,  more 
or  less  washed  with  brownish ;  third  unicuspid  usually  decidedly  larger 
than  the  fourth;  a  brown  pelage  occurs  in  summer  very  similar  to 
that  of  Sorex  fumeus;  occurs  in  Wisconsin  but  has  not  been  taken  in 
Illinois.  RICHARDSON'S  SHREW.  Sorex  richardsonii,  p.  414. 

SECTION  2.  Total  length  more  than  5.25  inches;  feet  fringed. 

Back  blackish  seal  brown;  under  parts  ashy  white;  feet 
fringed;  occurs  within  our  limits  from  central  Wisconsin 
northward.  .  WATER  SHREW  OR  MARSH  SHREW. 

Neosorex  palustris,  p.  421. 
Foot  of  Neosorex  palustris. 


Subfamily  SORICIN^E. 

Ends  of  teeth  and  crown  tubercles  colored  red;  zygomata  absent. 

Genus  SOREX  Linnaeus. 

Sorex  Linnaeus,  Syst.  Nat.,  X  ed.,  I,  1758,  p.  53.     Type  Sorex  araneus 

Linnaeus. 

Size  small;  tail  more  than  one-third  the  total  length;  external  ear 
not  entirely  concealed  by  fur;  snout  pointed;  first  upper  incisor  long, 
curved  and  hook-like;  inner  sides  of  canines  and  incisors  without 
secondary  cusps;  skull  delicate;  brain  case  broad;  milk  dentition  not 
functional. 

Dental  formula:  I.  — -,  C.^— ^>  Pm.  ^—^,  M.  ^^  =  32. 
2-2        o-o  i-i          3~3* 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.       411 

Subgenus  SOREX  Linnaeus. 
Sorex  personatus  GEOFFROY  ST.  HILIARE. 
COMMON  SHREW. 

Sorex  personatus  I.  GEOFFROY  ST.  HIL.,  Mem.  Mus.  d'Hist.  Nat.  Paris,  XV,  1827, 
p.  122.  MERRIAM,  N.  Amer.  Fauna,  No.  10,  1895,  p.  60  (Indiana,  Michigan, 
Minnesota,  etc.).  MILLER,  N.  Amer.  Fauna,  No.  10,  1895,  p.  53  (Minnesota, 
etc.).  RHOADS,  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  1896  (1897),  p.  202  (Tennessee). 
SNYDER,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  II,  1902,  p.  122  (Wisconsin).  JACKSON, 
Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  VI,  1908,  p.  30  (Wisconsin).  HAHN,  Ann.  Rept. 
Dept.  Geol.  &  Nat.  Resources  Ind.,  1908  (1909),  p.  604  (Indiana).  WOOD, 
Bull.  111.  State  Lab.  Nat.  Hist.,  VIII,  1910,  p.  581. 

Sorex  Forsteri  LAPHAM,  Trans.  Wis.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  II,  1852  (1853),  p.  338  (Wis- 
consin). 

Sorex  cooperi  KENNICOTT,  Agr.  Rept.  for  1857,  U.  S.  Patent  Office  Rept.,  1858,  p.  96. 
ALLEN,  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  XIII,  1869  (1871),  p.  187  (Iowa).  HERRICK, 
Geol.  &  Nat.  Hist.  Surv.  Minn.,  Bull.  No.  7,  1892,  p.  48  (Minnesota). 

Sorex  platyrhinus  EVERMANN  &  BUTLER,  Proc.  Ind.  Acad.  Sci.,  1893  (1894),  p. 
133  (Indiana). 

Type  locality  —  Eastern  United  States. 

Distribution  —  Northern  North  America,  from  about  the  latitude  of 
Virginia  north  to  Hudson  Bay  and  Alaska. 

Description  —  Upper  parts  approaching  sepia  brown  (rarely  chestnut) ; 
under  parts  ashy  gray  or  brownish  ash ;  upper  surface  of  tail  and 
tip  blackish;  under  surface  of  tail  whitish;  3rd  unicuspid  tooth 
not  smaller  than  the  4th.  (See  illustration,  page  408.) 

Measurements  —  Total  length,  about  3.95  in.  (100  mm.);  tail  vertebrae, 
1.50  in.  (38  mm.);  hind  foot,  .50  in.  (12.5  mm.). 

Remarks  —  The  chestnut  phase  of  pelage,  which  occasionally  occurs, 
is  apparently  rare.  There  are  two  specimens  in  this  Museum  in 
brown  pelage  from  Sumner,  Wisconsin;  one  taken  by  L.  Kumlien 
in  May,  1860,  and  the  other  by  T.  Kumlien  in  June,  1880;  the 
former  was  found  impaled  on  a  thorn  by  a  shrike.  According  to 
Dr.  Merriam,  "Out  of  20  specimens  from  Roan  Mountain,  North 
Carolina,  only  2  are  chestnut"  (/.  c.,  p.  60). 

The  Common  Shrew  is  found  throughout  Illinois  and  Wisconsin. 
Kennicott  reports  it  from  Murphysboro,  Jackson  County,  in  southern 
Illinois,  and  states  it  is  not  uncommon  in  the  northern  part  of  the 
state  (/.  c.,  p.  96).  Wood  reports  specimens  from  McLean  and  Mc- 
Henry  counties  and  there  are  specimens  in  the  Field  Museum  from 
Lake  County. 

Jackson  considers  it  common  in  most  parts  of  Wisconsin,  as  it 
doubtless  is.  I  have  examined  specimens  from  various  localities  in 


412     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 


Common  Shrew  (Sorex  personatus). 
(About  K  nat.  size.) 

the  interior  and  several  of  the  most  northern  counties  including  Douglas, 
Iron,  Florence,  and  Vilas. 

This  diminutive  species  usually  makes  its  home  under  an  old  log  or 
stump  or  beneath  the  roots  of  a  tree ;  sometimes  it  uses  a  hole  in  a  fallen 
tree.  In  open  fields  and  meadows  it  is  often  found  under  haycocks. 

Shrews  are  both  diurnal  and  nocturnal,  but  they  are  so  small  and 
active  they  are  rarely  seen.  Probably  not  one  person  in  a  hundred 
has  ever  seen  a  dead  Shrew  and  the  percentage  is  very  much  less  for 
those  who  have  seen  a  live  one  in  its  natural  haunts.  Sometimes  .a 
hunter,  while  remaining  perfectly  still,  watching  for  game,  may  catch 
a  fleeting  glimpse  of  one  of  these  little  animals  as  it  hurries  across  an 
open  space  among  the  leaves,  but  in  most  cases  it  would  pass  unnoticed. 
Dr.  C.  Hart  Merriam  says:  "The  naturalist  well  knows  that,  however 
cautiously  he  may  walk,  the  stir  of  his  footsteps  puts  to  flight  many 
forms  of  life  that  will  reappear  as  soon  as  quiet  is  restored;  therefore, 
in  his  excursions  through  the  woods,  he  waits  and  watches,  frequently 
stopping  to  listen  and  observe.  While  thus  occupied  it  sometimes 
happens  that  a  slight  rustling  reaches  his  ear.  There  is  no  wind,  but 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        413 

the  eye  rests  upon  a  fallen  leaf  that  seems  to  move.  Presently  another 
stirs  and  perhaps  a  third  leaf  turns  completely  over.  Then  something 
evanescent,  like  the  shadow  of  an  embryonic  mouse,  appears  and 
vanishes  before  the  retina  can  catch  its  perfect  image.  Anon,  the 
restless  phantom  flits  across  the  open  space,  leaving  no  trace  behind. 
But  a  charge  of  fine  shot,  dropped  with  quick  aim  upon  the  next  leaf 
that  moves  will  usually  solve  the  mystery.  The  author  of  the  per- 
plexing commotion  is  found  to  be  a  curious,  sharp-nosed  creature  no 
bigger  than  one's  little  finger,  and  weighing  hardly  more  than  a  dram. 
Its  ceaseless  activity,  and  the  rapidity  with  which  it  darts  from  place 
to  place,  is  truly  astonishing,  and  rarely  permits  the  observer  a  correct 
impression  of  its  form."* 

Herrick  gives  an  interesting  description  of  the  action  of  a  pair  of 
these  Shrews  which  he  observed  at  night  in  Pine  Co.,  Minnesota.  He 
says:  "To  a  person  alone  in  the  woods  for  the  first  time  after  a  long 
interval  every  sound  is  novel  and  more  or  less  charged  with  mystery. 
The  wind  stirred  the  tree  tops  and  impinging  boughs  clattered  and  the 
trunks  groaned  under  the  tortion,  each  tree  with  its  own  doleful  note. 
The  few  remaining  pines  added  their  sighing  to  the  many  melancholy 
sounds  belonging  to  the  autumn  forest  at  night.  But  amid  all  the 
sounds  nothing  could  be  identified  as  coming  from  anything  living, 
even  the  distant  howling  of  wolves  was  silenced,  and  I  began  to  feel 
that  the  attempt  to  gain  personal  knowledge  of  the  ways  of  woodsy 
mammals  by  night  study  would  prove  futile,  and  composed  myself  to 
sleep.  The  half -somnolent  revery  which  forms  the  prelude  to  slumber, 
was  broken  by  faint  melodious  sounds  on  an  excessively  high  key  —  so 
high  that  it  seemed  that  I  might  be  simply  hearing  the  lower  notes 
of  an  elfin  symphony,  the  upper  registers  in  which  were  beyond  the 
powers  of  human  ears  to  distinguish.  The  sounds  were  distinctly 
musical  and  reminded  me  of  the  contented  twitter  of  birds  finding 
resting  places  among  the  boughs  at  night.  Without  moving  I  turned 
my  eyes  upon  the  fire-lit  circle,  about  which  the  darkness  formed  an 
apparently  impenetrable  wall.  Only  the  most  careful  scrutiny  enabled 
me  to  discover  the  tiny  musicians.  Within  a  few  feet  of  my  head,  upon 
a  decayed  log,  raced  a  pair  of  shrews  (S.  cooperi] ,  so  minute  as  to  escape 
my  observation  at  first.  Up  and  down  with  the  most  sprightly  imag- 
inable motions  they  ran,  twittering  incessantly.  Hither  and  thither 
they  scampered  over  my  clothing  and  almost  into  my  pockets,  like 
veritable  lilliputians,  seizing  now  a  crumb  of  cheese,  with  which  my 
traps  were  baited,  and  now  a  bit  of  fish  fallen  from  my  improvised 
supper  table"  (/.  c.,  p.  41). 

*  Mamm.  Adirondack  Reg.,  1886,  p.  174. 


414    FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 

The  food  of  these  Shrews  consists  largely  of  worms  and  insects,  but 
they  also  eat  flesh  and  probably  devour  young  Mice  and  the  young 
of  the  smaller  ground-nesting  birds  whenever  they  find  them.  Dr.  C. 
Hart  Merriam  says:  "Not  only  are  these  agile  and  restless  little  Shrews 
voracious  and  almost  insatiable,  consuming  incredible  quantities  of 
raw  meat  and  insects  with  great  eagerness,  but  they  are  veritable 
cannibals  withal,  and  will  even  slay  and  devour  their  own  kind.  I 
once  confined  three  of  them  under  an  ordinary  tumbler.  Almost  im- 
mediately they  commenced  fighting,  and  in  a  few  minutes  one  was 
slaughtered  and  eaten  by  the  other  two.  Before  night  one  of  these 
killed  and  ate  its  only  surviving  companion,  and  its  abdomen  was 
much  distended  by  the  meal.  Hence  in  less  than  eight  hours  one  of 
these  tiny  wild  beasts  had  attacked,  overcome,  and  ravenously  con- 
sumed two  of  its  own  species,  each  as  large  and  heavy  as  itself"  (7.  c., 
p.  174). 

Shrews  possess  scent  glands,  secreting  a  strong,  musky  smelling 
liquid,  which  are  situated  on  each  side  of  the  body  near  the  fore  leg.  On 
account  of  their  odor  they  are  regarded  as  undesirable  food  by  most 
mammals  and  are  rarely  eaten. 

Specimens  examined  from  Illinois  and  Wisconsin: 
Illinois  —  Fox  Lake,  3;  Camp  Logan,  Lake  Co.,  8  =  n. 
Wisconsin  —  Sumner,  2;  Milton,  Rock  Co.,  i;  Solon  Springs,  Douglas 
Co.,  13  (7  in  alcohol);  Sayner,  Vilas  Co.,  17;  Spread  Eagle,  Florence 
Co.,  3;  Beaver  Dam,  Dodge  Co.,   i;  Conover,  Vilas  Co.,   i;  Lac 
Vieux  Desert,  Vilas  Co.,  5;  (M.P.M.)  Cataline,  Marinette  Co.,  4; 
Newport,  Door  Co.,  i;  Prairie  du  Sac,  Sauk  Co.,  4;  Prescott,  Pierce 
Co.,  4;  Kelly  Brook,  Oconto  Co.,  2;  Milwaukee  Co.,  i;  Delavan, 
Walworth  Co.,  i;  (S.  C.)  Beaver  Dam,  Dodge  Co.,  20  =  80. 

Sorex  richardsonii  BACHMAN. 
RICHARDSON'S  SHREW. 

Sorex  richardsonii  BACHMAN,  Jour.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  VII,  Pt.  II,  1837,  p.  383. 

MILLER,  N.  Amer.  Fauna,  No.  10,  1895,  p.  48  (Minnesota).     MERRIAM,  N. 

Amer.  Fauna,  No.  10,  1895,  p.  63  (Minnesota,  etc.).     SNYDER,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat. 

Hist.  Soc.,  II,  1902,  p.  123  (Wisconsin).     JACKSON,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc., 

•  VI,  1908,  p.  30  (Wisconsin). 

Type  locality  —  Unknown;  probably  plains  of  Saskatchewan,  Canada. 

Distribution  —  From  Wisconsin  and  western  Ontario  through  Minne- 
sota and  Manitoba  northwest  to  Alberta  and  northward  nearly  to 
the  Arctic  Circle;  exact  limits  unknown. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        415 

Description  —  Color  of  back  noticeably  different  from  the  sides ;  upper 
parts  very  dark  brown;  sides  of  body  fulvous  brown;  under  parts 
ashy  plumbeous,  more  or  less  faintly  washed  with  brownish;  tail 
dark  brown  above,  paler  brown  on  under  surface,  the  end  blackish; 
3rd  unicuspid  tooth  decidedly  larger  than  the  4th.  All  unicuspid 
teeth  larger  than  in  S.  fumeus  and  brain-case  and  rostrum  heavier. 

In  summer  a  nearly  concolor  brown  pelage  occurs  hardly  dis- 
tinguishable from  the  brown  pelage  of  S.  fumeus. 

Measurements  —  Total  length,  about  4.50  in.  (114  mm.) ;  tail  vertebrae, 
i. 60  in.  (41  mm.);  hind  foot,  .56  in.  (14  mm.). 

Richardson's  Shrew  probably  occurs  throughout  Wisconsin,  but  it 
is  doubtful  if  its  range  extends  quite  so  far  south  as  Illinois.  There 
are  specimens  in  the  Field  Museum  from  Solon  Springs,  Douglas  Co. ; 
Sayner  and  Conover,  Vilas  Co.;  and  Pelican  Lake,  Oneida  Co.;  Jackson 
records  5  specimens  taken  southeast  of  Rhineland  in  Oneida  Co.  (/.  c., 
p.  30);  Synder  secured  a  specimen  near  Beaver  Dam,  Dodge  Co.  (/.  c., 
p.  123);  and  Mr.  W.  H.  Osgood  secured  a  specimen  in  brown  pelage  at 
Pelican  Lake,  Oneida  Co.,  on  September  20,  1911,  which  agrees  per- 
fectly in  coloration  with  brown  specimens  of  S.  fumeus.  The  fact 
that  so  few  specimens  have  been  taken  does  not  necessarily  imply  that 
the  animal  is  rare,  as  all  collectors  know  Shrews  are  by  no  means  easy 
to  trap  and  are  scarcely  ever  seen  unless  found  in  some  pit  or  well 
into  which  they  have  fallen. 

Specimens  examined  from  Wisconsin: 

Wisconsin  —  Solon  Springs,  Douglas  Co.,  2;  Pelican  Lake,  Oneida  Co., 
i ;  Sayner,  Vilas  Co.,  i ;  Conover,  Vilas  Co.,  i;  (S.  C.),  Beaver  Dam, 
Dodge  Co.,  1  =  6. 

Sorex  fumeus  MILLER. 

SMOKY  SHREW. 

Sorex  fumeus  MILLER,  X.  Amer.  Fauna,  No.  10,  1895,  p.  50.     RHOADS,  Proc.  Acad. 

Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  1896  (1897),  p.  203  (Tennessee).     HOLLISTER,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat. 

Hist.  Soc.,  VI,  1908,  p.  142  (Wisconsin).     HOWELL,  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash., 

XXII,  1909,  p.  66  (Tennessee,  etc.). 
Sorex  richardsonii  BAIRD,  Mammals  N.  Amer.,  1857,  p.  24  (Racine,  Wisconsin). 

STRONG,  Geol.  Wis.,  Surv.  1873-79,  I,  1883,  p.  438  (Wisconsin). 

Type  locality  —  Peterboro,  Madison  Co.,  New  York. 

Distribution  —  Northeastern  United  States,  Nova  Scotia,  southern 
New  Brunswick,  southern  Ontario  and  southern  Quebec,  west  to 
Wisconsin  and  south  in  the  mountains  to  North  Carolina,  Ten- 
nessee and  northern  Georgia. 

Description  —  General  color  dark  slaty  plumbeous ;  under  parts  slightly 
paler  and  more  or  less  washed  with  ashy;  tail  dark  above,  with  the 


4i6    FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 

under  surface  pale  (dull  flesh  color  on  fresh  specimens)  and  the 
end  blackish;  under  surface  of  muzzle  whitish.  The  absence  of 
a  dark  dorsal  area  is  one  of  the  characters  by  which  this  species 
may  usually  be  distinguished  from  richardsonii.  A  brown  pelage 
occurs  in  summer,  the  animal  being  near  uniform  dull  chestnut 
brown  or  hair  brown  with  under  parts  slightly  paler.  Third  uni- 
cuspid  tooth  not  smaller  than  the  4th,  usually  slightly  larger; 
rostrum  and  brain-case  lower  and  unicuspids  smaller  than  in  5. 
richardsonii. 

Measurements  —  Total  length,  about  4. 70  in.  (120  mm.) ;  tail  vertebras, 
about  1.75  in.  (44.4  mm.);  hind  foot,  .55  in.  (13.7  mm.). 
So  far  as  known  the  only  specimen  of  the  Smoky  Shrew  which  has 
yet  been  collected  within  our  limits  was  taken  at  Racine,  Wisconsin, 
and  is  now  in  the  National  Museum  collection.     The  specimen  was 
originally  identified  by  Baird  as  S.  richardsonii,  but  was  later  dis- 
covered by  Miller  to  be  S.  fumeus  (Miller,  /.  c.,  p.  39). 

Very  little  is  known  regarding  the  species  and  only  a  general  idea  of 
its  distribution  has  been  obtained  from  the  widely  scattered  specimens 
which  have  been  taken.  The  habits  of  this  Shrew  probably  differ  but 
little  from  those  of  allied  species. 

Sorex  longirostris  BACHMAN. 
CAROLINA  SHREW.     SOUTHERN  SHREW. 

Sorex  longirostris  BACHMAN,  Jour.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  VII,  Pt.  II,  1837,  p.  370 
MILLER,  N.  Amer.  Fauna,  No.  10,  1895,  p.  52.  MERRIAM,  N.  Amer.  Fauna,  No- 
10,  1895,  p.  85.  HAHN,  Ann.  Kept.  Dept.  Geol.  &  Nat.  Resources  Ind.,  1908 
(1909),  p.  607  (Indiana).  HOWELL,  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XXII,  1909,  p.  66 
(Indiana).  WOOD,  Bull.  111.  State  Lab.  Nat.  Hist.,  VIII,  1910,  p.  582  (McHenry 
Co.,  Illinois). 

Amphisorex  leseurii  DUVERNOY,  Mag.  de  Zool.,  Ser.  2,  Mamm.,  1842,  p.  33  (Indiana). 

Type  locality  —  Swamps  of  Santee  River,  South  Carolina. 

Distribution  —  North  and  South  Carolina,  northern  Georgia,  Ten- 
nessee and  Kentucky  to  southern  Illinois;  limits  of  range  unknown. 

Description  — '-  General  color  dull  chestnut  brown,  approaching  sepia 
brown;  under  parts  ashy  gray,  often  washed  with  pale  drab  brown; 
fur  slate  colored  at  base;  upper  surface  of  tail  dark,  under  surface 
pale;  3rd  unicuspid  tooth  smaller  than  the  4th. 

Measurements  —  Total  length,  about  3.45  in.  (87  mm.);  tail  vertebrae, 
1.25  in.  (32  mm.);  hind  foot,  .43  in.  (10.50  mm.). 

Remarks  —  Resembles  Sorex  personatus  in  coloration  and  size,  although 
the  tail  and  hind  foot  are  somewhat  shorter.  They  may  always 
be  distinguished  by  cranial  and  dental  characters,  the  rostrum  being 
decidedly  broader  and  the  3rd  unicuspid  tooth  is  smaller  than  the 
4th  (see  illustration,  p.  408). 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        417 


Maps  illustrating  the  supposed  distribution  of  Shrews  belonging  to  the  genus  Sorex  in  eastern 
United  States  and  Canada  south  of  latitude  52°.  The  range  of  several  of  the  species  will  probably 
be  ultimately  found  to  be  much  more  extended. 

Sorex  personatus  GEOFFROY  ST.  HIL.  Type  locality  —  Eastern  United  States. 
Description  as  previously  given. 

Sorex  p.  miscix  BANGS.  (Proc.  N.  Engl.  Zool.  Club,  I,  1899,  p.  15).  Type  locality 
— Black  Bay,  Strait  of  Belle  Isle,  Labrador.  Larger  and  somewhat  paler  than 
personatus. 

Sorex  fontinalis  HOLLISTER.  (Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  XL,  1911,  p.  378.)  Type 
locality  —  Cold  Spring  Swamp,  near  Beltsville,  Maryland.  Similar  to  per- 
sonatus but  smaller;  skull  smaller  and  narrower. 


418    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

Sorex  dispar  BATCHELDER.  (Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XXIV,  1911,  p.  97.)  Type 
locality  —  Beedes,  Essex  Co.,  New  York.  Color  somewhat  similar  to  fumeus, 
but  tail  much  longer;  also  differs  in  cranial  characters. 

Sorex  richardsonii  BACHMAN.  Type  locality  —  Unknown,  probably  plains  of  the 
Saskatchewan.  Description  as  previously  given. 

Sorex  fumeus  MILLER.  Type  locality  —  Peterboro,  Madison  Co.,  New  York. 
Description  as  previously  given. 

Sorex  longirostris  BACHMAN.  Type  locality  —  Swamps  of  Santee  River,  South  Caro- 
lina. Description  as  previously  given. 

Sorex  fisheri  MERRIAM.  (N.  Amer.  Fauna,  No.  10,  1895,  p.  86,  PL  IV,  fig.  4.)  Type 
locality  —  Lake  Drummond,  Dismal  Swamp,  Virginia.  Similar  to  longirostris 
but  larger;  hind  foot  longer.  Color  "dull  chestnut  brown  fading  to  drab  on 
under  parts."  (Merriam). 

The  Field  Museum  collection  contains  7  specimens  of  the  Carolina 
Shrew  from  extreme  southern  Illinois;  4  from  Reevesville,  Johnson  Co., 
and  3  from  Olive  Branch,  Alexander  Co.  Aside  from  these  the  only 
other  specimen  known  to  have  been  taken  within  our  limits  is  that 
recorded  by  Wood,  as  identified  by  Merriam,  which  was  caught  in  a 
tamarack  swamp  near  Pistakee  Bay,  McHenry  Co.,  November  14,  1907 
(Wood.  /.  c.,  p.  582). 

The  limits  of  its  range  are  unknown,  but  it  may  be  expected  to  occur 
throughout  Illinois  and  perhaps  in  southern  Wisconsin. 

Its  habits  may  be  assumed  to  differ  but  little  from  those  of  S.  per- 
sonatus. 

Specimens  examined  from  Illinois: 
Illinois  —  Reevesville,  Johnson  Co.,  4;  Olive  Branch,  Alexander  Co., 

3  =  7- 

Genus  MICROSOREX  Coues. 

Microsorex  Coues,  Bull.  U.  S.  Geol.  &  Geogr.  Surv.  Terr.,  Ill,  1877, 

p.  646.     Type  Sorex  hoyi  Baird. 

Size  very  small;  functional  unicuspid  teeth  in  upper  jaw  having  a 
distinct  pigmented  secondary  cusp  on  the  inner  sides;  3d  unicuspid 
exceedingly  minute  and  wedged  in  between  the  26.  and  4th. 

Dental  formula:  I.  ±-*,  C.— ,  Pm.  — ,  M.  ^=32. 

2-2  0-0  I-I  3-3 

Microsorex  hoyi  (BAIRD). 
HOY'S  SHREW.     PIGMY  SHREW. 

Sorex  hoyi  BAIRD,  Mammals  N.  Amer.,  1857,  p.  32  (Racine,  Wisconsin).  STRONG, 
Geol.  Wis.,  Surv.  1873-79,  I.  I883,  p.  438  (Wisconsin).  ADAMS,  Rept.  State 
Board  Geol.  Surv.  Mich.,  1905  (1906),  p.  130  (Michigan).  MILLER,  N.  Amer. 
Fauna,  No.  10,  1895,  p.  89  (Minnesota,  etc.). 

Sorex  (Microsorex)  hoyi  MERRIAM,  N.  Amer.  Fauna,  No.  10,  1895,  p.  89  (Minne- 
sota, etc.). 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        419 

Type  locality  —  Racine,  Wisconsin. 

Distribution  —  Northern  United  States  and  southern  Canada  south  to 
Michigan,  southern  Wisconsin  and  New  York,  and  considerably 
further  south  in  the  Allegheny  Mountains;  its  western  range  ex- 
tends nearly  across  the  continent  but  its  exact  limits  are  unknown. 

Description  —  General  appearance  somewhat  resembling  5.  personatus, 
but  tail  decidedly  shorter.  Upper  parts  approaching  sepia  brown; 
under  parts  ashy  gray  or  pale  brownish  gray,  often  washed  with 
buff  on  throat  and  breast;  upper  surface  of  tail  dark  brown,  under 
surface  pale.  Best  distinguished  from  any  of  our  species  by  dental 
characters.  There  are  apparently  only  three  unicuspid  teeth 
present  on  each  side  of  upper  jaw;  the  third  is  wedged  in  between 
the  2d  and  4th  and  is  so  exceedingly  small  that  it  requires  the  aid 
of  a  good  lens  to  distinguish  it  at  all  and  even  then  it  is  rarely 
visible  from  the  outside.  The  canine  and  second  and  third  upper 
incisors  have  a  distinct  pigmented  secondary  cusp  near  base  on 
the  inner  sides. 

Measurements  —  Total  length,  about  3.20  in.  (81  mm.);  tail  vertebrae, 
1.25  in.  (31.8  mm.);  hind  foot,  .42  in.  (10.5  mm.). 

Hoy's  Shrew  was  described  by  the  late  Prof.  Baird,  in  1857,  from  a 
specimen  taken  at  Racine,  Wisconsin.  Two  specimens,  including  the 
type,  were  recorded  by  him  from  that  locality. 

A  mounted  Shrew  preserved  in  the  Milwaukee  Public  Museum, 
which,  taken  by  Thure  Kumlien  in  Jefferson  County,  in  1879,  was  for 
many  years  supposed  to  be  this  species,  but  upon  examination  it  proved 
to  be  5.  personatus;  therefore,  until  1910  Baird's  specimens  were  the  only 
ones  known  to  have  been  taken  within  our  limits.  In  August,  1910, 
Mr.  W.  H.  Osgood  secured  two  others  at  Lac  Vieux  Desert,  Vilas  Co., 
Wisconsin.  He  informs  me  they  were  not  taken  in  traps  but  had 
fallen  into  a  partly  excavated  well  some  three  or  four  feet  deep,  in  which 
he  found  them.  It  is  probable  that  the  species  is  by  no  means  rare, 
but  the  difficulty  in  trapping  it  makes  it  appear  so. 

Regarding  the  habits  of  this  diminutive  species  we  know  very 
little.  Like  many  others  of  its  kind,  its  life  history  is  one  of  Nature's 
books,  which  has  rarely  been  opened,  and  which  remains  for  future 
investigators  to  read. 

Specimens  examined  from  Wisconsin: 
Wisconsin  —  Lac  Vieux  Desert,  Vilas  Co.,  2. 


420    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 


Map  illustrating  approximate  distribution  of  the  Shrews  belonging  to  the  genus  Microsorex  in 
eastern  United  States  and  Canada. 

Microsorex  hoyi  (BAIRD).  Type  locality  —  Racine,  Wisconsin.  Description  as 
previously  given. 

Microsorex  alnorum  (PREBLE).  (N.  Amer.  Fauna,  No.  22,  1902,  p.  72.)  Type 
locality  —  Robinson  Portage,  Keewatin,  Canada.  Grayer  than  hoyi  above, 
without  brownish  on  under  parts;  feet  larger  and  also  cranial  differences;  ap- 
proaches very  closely  Microsorex  eximius  (Osgood). 

Microsorex  winnemana  PREBLE.  (Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XXIII,  1910,  p.  101.) 
Type  locality  —  Fairfax  County  (bank  of  Potomac  River  near  Stubblefield 
Falls),  Virginia.  "Similar  to  Microsorex  hoyi,  but  considerably  smaller;  brain- 
case  proportionally  higher  and  more  rounded"  (Preble).  Total  length  of 
type  about  3.1  in.  (78  mm.);  tail  vertebrae,  about  1.2  in.  (30  mm.). 


Genus  NEOSOREX  Baird. 

Neosorex  Baird,   Mammals  N.  Amer.,    1857,  p.    n.     Type  Neosorex 
navigator  Baird. 

Fourth  upper  incisor  well  developed;  no  second- 
ary cusps  on  inner  side  of  canines  or  incisors  ;  brain- 
Hind  foot  of  Neosorex      case  broad;  feet  with  fringe  of  bristly  hairs. 

palustris. 


Dental  formula:  I. 


2-2 


C. 


o-o 


,  Pm. 


I-I 


3-3 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        421 

Neosorex  palustris  (RICHARDSON). 
MARSH  SHREW.     WATER  SHREW. 

Sorex  palustris  RICHARDSON,  Zool.  Jour.,  Ill,  1828,  p.  517.     MILLER,  Proc.  Bost. 

Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  XXVI,  1894,  p.  183  (Minnesota).     Ib.,  N.  Amer.  Fauna,  No. 

10,  1895,  p.  45  (Minnesota). 
Neosorex  palustris  JACKSON,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  VI,  1908,  p.  31  (Wisconsin). 

BAILEY,  Rept.  Orn.  &  Mamm.,  U.  S.  Dept.  Agr.,  1887,  p.  435  (Minnesota). 
Sorex  (Neosorex)  palustris  MERRIAM,  N.  Amer.  Fauna,  No.  10, 1895,  p.  91  (Minnesota). 

Type   locality  —  Unknown ;     somewhere    between    Hudson    Bay    and 

Rocky  Mountains. 
Distribution  —  Ranges  from  Wisconsin,  Minnesota  and  western  Ontario 

to  Hudson  Bay,  and  northwest  to  the  Great  Slave  Lake  Region; 

replaced  in  the  East  by  slightly  different  forms. 
Description  —  General  color  of  upper  parts  dusky  seal-brown,  almost 

black,  showing  a  faint  speckling  of  gray  when  closely  examined; 

under  parts  ashy  gray,  showing  a  white  gloss  in  some  lights;  inner 

sides  of  legs  like  belly;  tail  dark  brown  above  and  at  the  end;  under 

surface  of  tail  (except  at  the  end)  pale ;  feet  fringed  with  fine  bristly 

hairs. 
Measurements  —  Total  length,  about  6  in.  (153  mm.);  tail  vertebrae, 

2.70  in.  (68.5  mm.);  hind  foot,  .77  in.  (20  mm.). 

So  far  as  known,  the  range  of  the  Marsh  Shrew  within  our  limits 
is  confined  to  northern  Wisconsin.  There  are  specimens  in  the  Field 
Museum  collection  from  Douglas  and  Vilas  counties  and  one  in  the 
Milwaukee  Public  Museum  from  Marinette  County,  and  Jackson 
records  four  specimens  from  the  vicinity  of  Rhinelander,  Oneida  Co. 

Very  little  is  known  regarding  the  habits  of  this  species.  It  fre- 
quents the  vicinity  of  water  and  is  undoubtedly  semi-aquatic,  as  it 
is  a  good  swimmer  and  quite  at  home  in  the  water.  Mr.  Vernon  Bailey, 
who  secured  specimens  at  Elle  River,  Minnesota,  says:  "I  have  always 
found  them  living  in  holes  in  creek  banks;  in  the  spring  of  1886  a  neigh- 
bor caught  and  gave  me  one  that  he  found  swimming  in  a  small  pond  of 
snow  water  in  a  hollow  near  his  home "  (1.  c.,  p.  435).  Seton  states  that 
Prof.  John  Macoun  has  seen  it  swimming  in  the  open  waters  of  a  moun- 
tain brook  at  Crow's  Nest  Pass,  B.  C.  "It  darted  about  swiftly  in  the 
current,  without  apparent  effort,  the  snout  and  back  only  out."* 

Samuel  Hearne  informs  us  that  in  the  Hudson  Bay  Territories  it 
is  frequently  found  in  Beaver  houses  in  winter,  "where  they  not  only 
find  a  warm  habitation,  but  also  pick  up  a  comfortable  livelihood 
from  the  scraps  left  by  the  Beaver,  "f 

*  Life  Hist.  Northern  Animals,  II,  1909,  p.  1115. 

t  Journey,  1795,  p.  386. 


422     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 

Specimens  examined  from  Wisconsin: 

Solon  Springs,  Douglas  Co.,  4;  Sayner,  Vilas  Co.,  i;  Lac  Vieux  Desert, 
Vilas  Co.,  3;  (M.P.M.)  Marinette  Co.,  1  =  9. 


Map  illustrating  approximate  range  of  the  Shrews  belonging  to  the  genus  Neosorex  in  eastern 
United  States  and  southern  Canada,  south  of  latitude  52°.     • 

Neosorex  palustris  (RICHARDSON).  Type  locality  —  Unknown;  North  America, 
somewhere  between  Hudson  Bay  and  the  Rocky  Mountains.  Description 
as  previously  given. 

Neosorex  albibarbis  COPE.  (Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  1862,  p.  188.)  Type 
locality  —  Profile  Lake,  New  Hampshire.  Resembles  palustris  in  size  and 
coloration  of  upper  parts,  but  color  of  under  parts  is  darker. 


Genus  BLARINA  Gray. 

SHORT-TAILED  SHREWS. 

Blarina  Gray,   Proc.   Zool.   Soc.   Lond.,    1837,   p.    124.     Type   Sorex 
talpoides  Gapper  =  Sorex  bremcaudus  Say. 

Tail  very  short,  less  than  one-third  of  total  length;  ears  concealed 
by  fur;  teeth  30  or  32,  tipped  with  reddish  brown;  unicuspids  4  or  5, 

first  and  second  large,  third  and  fourth  much 
smaller,  fifth  very  small  or  absent;  first  four 
unicuspids  with  small  secondary  cusp  on 
inner  side. 

Dental  formula: 


I. 


4-4  or  3~3^ 

2-2 


o-o 


3-3 


Skull     of     a     Shrew    (Blarina), 
enlarged. 


=  30  or  32. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        423 

Subgenus  BLARINA  Gray. 

"Teeth  32;  unicuspids  5,  the  anterior  4  in  two  pairs,  first  and  second 
largest  and  subequal,  third  and  fourth  abruptly  much  smaller  and 
subequal,  fifth  minute.  Basal  lobe  of  middle  incisor  elongated  antero- 
posteriorly.  Brain-case  not  arched  anteroposteriorly,  highest  at 
lambdoid  suture;  plane  of  occiput  nearly  flat. "  (Merriam.) 

Blarina  brevicauda  (SAY). 
SHORT-TAILED  SHREW.     MOLE  SHREW. 

Sorex  brevicaudus  SAY,  Long's  Exped.  Rocky  Mts.,  I,  1823,  p.  164.  KENNICOTT 
Trans.  111.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  I,  1853-54  (1855),  p.  578  (Cook  Co.,  Illinois). 

Sorex  Dekayi  LAPHAM,  Trans.  Wis.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  II,  1852  (1853),  p.  338  (Wis- 
consin). 

Sorex  Blarina  (brevicaudatus)  KENNICOTT,  Agr.  Rept.  for  1857,  U.  S.  Patent  Office 
Rept.,  1858,  p.  93. 

Sorex  talpoides  GAPPER,  Zool.  Journ.,  V,  1830,  p.  202,  PL  VIII  (Ontario). 

Blarina  brevicaudata  ALLEN,  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  XIII,  1869  (1871),  p.  187 
(Iowa).  HERRICK,  Geol.  &  Nat.  Hist.  Surv.  Minn.,  Bull.  No.  7,  1892,  p.  44 
(Minnesota). 

Blarina  brevicauda  STRONG,  Geol.  Wis.,  Surv.  1873-79,  I,  1883,  p.  438  (Wisconsin). 
BAILEY,  Rept.  Orn.  &  Mamm.,  U.  S.  Dept.  Agr.,  1887,  p.  435  (Minnesota). 
EVERMANN  &  BUTLER,  Proc.  Ind.  Acad.  Sci.,  1893  (1894),  p.  132  (Indiana). 
MERRIAM,  N.  Amer.  Fauna,  No.  10,  1895,  p.  10  (Minnesota,  Iowa,  Missouri, 
Illinois,  Michigan,  Indiana).  RHOADS,  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  1896  (1897), 
p.  202  (Tennessee).  SNYDER,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  II,  1902,  p.  122  (Wis- 
consin). ADAMS,  Rept.  State  Board  Geol.  Surv.  Mich.,  1905  (1906),  p.  130 
(Michigan).  JACKSON,  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XX,  1907,  p.  74.  JACKSON, 
Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  VI,  1908,  p.  32  (Wisconsin).  HAHN,  Ann.  Rept.. 
Dept.  Geol.  &  Nat.  Resources  Ind.,  1908  (1909),  p.  598  (Indiana).  WOOD, 
Bull.  111.  State  Lab.  Nat.  Hist.,  VIII,  1910,  p.  583  (Illinois). 

Type  locality  —  Near  Blair,  Washington  Co.,  Nebraska. 

Distribution  —  From  Nebraska  and  Manitoba  east  to  the  Atlantic 
coast,  north  to  southern  Canada,  south  to  northern  Missouri, 
Illinois  and  Virginia  and  in  the  mountains  to  North  Carolina  and 
Tennessee. 

Description  —  Upper  parts  dusky  plumbeous,  showing  brownish 
plumbeous  in  some  lights ;  under  parts  paler  and  more  or  less  washed 
with  ashy;  tail  short,  dark  above  and  somewhat  paler  below;  four 
well  developed  unicuspid  teeth,  the  first  two  larger  than  the  third 
and  fourth,  the  third  and  fourth  about  equal. 

Measurements  —  Average  measurements  of  1 2  specimens  from  Wis- 
consin and  northern  Illinois:  Total  length,  about  5  in.  (125  mm.); 
tail  vertebrae,  about  i  in.  (25.6  mm.);  hind  foot,  .62  in.  (15.9  mm.). 


424    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 


Short-tailed  Shrew  (Blarina  brevicauda). 

The  Short-tailed  Shrew  occurs  commonly  throughout  Wisconsin 
and  northern  Illinois,  but  it  apparently  intergrades  with  the  smaller, 
southern  race,  B.  brevicauda  carolinensis,  in  the  central  part  of  the  latter 
state.  The  average  measurements,  as  given  by  Wood,  of  39  specimens 
from  Warren,  Iroquois  and  Champaign  counties  are  as  follows:  Total 
length,  4.49  in.  (113  mm.);  tail  vertebrae,  .90  in.  (22.68  mm.). 

The  Short -tailed  Shrew,  or  Mole  Shrew  as  it  is  often  called,  makes 
its  home  under  decayed  logs  and  old  piles  of  brush.  It  constructs 
tunnels  and  runways  under  leaves,  moss  and  in  loose  soil,  the  bur- 
rows usually  being  shallow  and  near  the  surface  of  the  ground.  It 
is  both  nocturnal  •  and  diurnal  and  its  food  consists  largely  of  slugs, 
worms  and  insects  of  various  kinds,  but  it  also  eats  flesh  of  other  ani- 
mals and  does  not  hesitate  to  attack  a  Mouse  larger  than  itself.  Ac- 
cording to  Prof.  E.  D.  Cope  a  Shrew  has  been  known  to  attack  and  kill 
a  snake  two  feet  in  length.  He  says:  "I  recently  placed  a  water-snake 
(Tropidonotus  sipedon)  of  two  feet  in  length,  in  a  fernery  which  was 
inhabited  by  a  shrew,  either  a  large  Blarina  carolinensis  or  a  small 
Blarina  talpoides.  The  snake  was  vigorous  when  placed  in  the  case 
in  the  afternoon  and  bit  at  everything  within  reach.  The  next  morn- 
ing the  glass  sides  of  his  prison  were  streaked  with  dirt  and  other 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  or  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.       425 

marks,  to  the  height  of  the  reach  of  the  snake,  bearing  witness  to  his 
energetic  efforts  to  escape.  He  was  then  lying  on  the  eastern  floor  in 
an  exhausted  state,  making  a  few  ineffectual  efforts  to  twist  his  body, 
while  the  Blarina  was  busy  tearing  out  his  masseter  and  temporal 
muscles.  A  large  part  of  the  flesh  was  eaten  from  his  tail,  and  the 
temporal  and  masseter  muscles  and  eye  on  one  side  were  removed, 
so  that  the  under  jaw  hung  loose.  .  .  .  [The  shrew]  had  appar- 
ently not  been  bitten  by  the  snake  and  was  uninjured.  Whether  the 
shrew  killed  the  snake  is  of  course  uncertain,  but  the  animus  with 
which  he  devoured  the  .reptile  gives  color  to  the  suspicion  that  he  in 
some  way  frightened  him  to  exhaustion.* 

Regarding  the  ability  of  this  ferocious  little  animal  to  kill  Mice, 
I  will  quote  a  statement  of  Dr.  C.  Hart  Merriam,  who  says: 

"Having  caught  a  vigorous,  though  undersized  Shrew,  I  put  him 
in  a  large  wooden  box  and  provided  him  with  an  ample  supply  of  beech- 
nuts, which  he  ate  eagerly.  He  was  also  furnished  with  a  saucer  of 
water,  from  which  he  frequently  drank.  After  he  had  remained  two 
days  in  these  quarters,  I  placed  in  the  box  with  him  an  uninjured  and 
very  active  white-footed  mouse.  The  Shrew  at  the  time  weighed  11.20 
grammes,  while  the  mouse,  which  was  a  large  adult  male,  weighed 
just  17  grammes.  No  sooner  did  the  Shrew  become  aware  of  the 
presence  of  the  mouse  than  he  gave  chase.  The  mouse,  though  much 
larger  than  the  Shrew,  showed  no  disposition  to  fight,  and  his  superior 
agility  enabled  him,  for  a  long  time,  easily  to  evade  his  pursuer,  for 
at  a  single  leap  he  would  pass  over  the  latter 's  head  and  to  a  considerable 
distance  beyond.  The  Shrew  labored  at  great  disadvantage,  not 
only  from  his  inability  to  keep  pace  with  the  mouse,  but  also,  and  to  a 
still  greater  extent,  from  his  defective  eyesight.  He  frequently  passed 
within  two  inches  (31  mm.)  of  the  mouse  without  knowing  of  his 
whereabouts.  But  he  was  persistent,  and  explored  over  and  over 
again  every  part  of  the  box,  constantly  putting  the  mouse  to  flight. 
Indeed,  it  was  by  sheer  perseverence  that  he  so  harassed  the  mouse, 
that  the  latter,  fatigued  by  almost  continuous  exertion,  and  also  prob- 
ably weakened  by  fright,  was  no  longer  able  to  escape.  He  was  first 
caught  by  the  tail;  this  proved  a  temporary  stimulant,  and  he  bounded 
several  times  across  the  box,  dragging  his  adversary  after  him.  The 
Shrew  did  not  seem  in  the  least  disconcerted  at  being  thus  harshly 
jerked  about  his  domicil,  but  continued  the  pursuit  with  great  deter- 
mination. He  next  seized  the  mouse  in  its  side,  which  resulted  in  a 
rough  and  tumble,  the  two  rolling  over  and  over  and  biting  each  other 
with  much  energy.  The  mouse  freed  himself,  but  was  so  exhausted 

*  Amer.  Nat.,  VII,  1873,  pp.  490-491. 


426     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 

that  the  Shrew  had  no  difficulty  in  keeping  alongside,  and  soon  had  him 
by  the  ear.  The  mouse  rolled  and  kicked  and  scratched  and  bit,  but 
to  no  avail.  The  Shrew  was  evidently  much  pleased  and  forthwith 
began  to  devour  the  ear.  When  he  had  it  about  half  eaten-off  the 
mouse  again  tore  himself  free ;  but  his  inveterate  little  foe  did  not  suffer 
him  to  escape.  This  time  the  Shrew  clambered  up  over  his  back 
and  was  soon  at  work  consuming  the  remainder  of  the  ear.  This  being 
satisfactorily  accomplished,  he  continued  to  push  on  in  the  same  direc- 
tion till  he  had  cut  through  the  skull  and  eaten  the  brains,  together 
with  the  whole  side  of  the  head  and  part  of  the  shoulder.  This  com- 
pleted his  first  meal,  which  occupied  not  quite  fifteen  minutes  after  the 
death  of  the  mouse.  As  soon  as  he  had  finished  eating  I  again  placed 
him  upon  the  scale  and  found  that  he  weighed  exactly  12.  grammes  — 
an  increase  of  .80  gramme. 

"The  Shrew  was  half  an  hour  in  tiring  the  mouse,  and  another  half 
hour  in  killing  him.  But  it  must  be  remembered  that  he  was  not 
fully  grown,  and  was  doubtless,  on  this  account,  longer  in  capturing 
and  killing  his  victim  than  would  have  been  the  case  had  he  been  an 
adult.  Still,  it  is  clear  that  a  Shrew  could  never  catch  mice  on  open 
ground.  His  small  size,  however,  enables  him  readily  to  enter  their 
holes  and  to  follow  them  to  their  nests  and  the  remotest  ramifications 
of  their  burrows,  where,  having  no  escape,  he  can  slay  them  with 
fearful  certainty."* 

Regarding  the  habits  of  this  species  Robert  Kennicott  writes: 
"The  short-tailed  shrew  abounds  both  in  prairie  and  woods.  I  am 
unable  to  say  whether  it  exists  far  out  on  the  larger  prairies ;  but  it  has 
been  found  in  abundance  several  miles  from  any  woodland.  It  is  fond  of 
high  ground,  and  is  not  at  all  aquatic.  I  have  been  unable  to  find 
traces  of  it  in  wet  places,  such  as  swamps  and  the  edges  of  sloughs, 
within  a  few  rods  of  which  it  is  numerous.  I  have  nowhere  seen  more 
of  its  tracks  than  on  some  white-oak  ridges  lying  several  miles  west 
of  Lake  Michigan.  But  even  where  most  numerous,  it  is  little  known; 
and,  indeed,  it  is  no  easy  matter  to  get  sight  of  one  of  them  at  any 
time.  In  turning  over  old  logs,  for  hours,  in  search  of  them,  I  have 
rarely  been  able  to  see  one;  and  then  only  when  it  was  retreating  at 
such  speed  as  to  generally  escape  in  some  of  the  numerous  path-ways 
which  lead  in  every  direction  from  a  log  thus  chosen  for  its  resting 
place,  or  under  which  it  may  happen  to  take  refuge  on  a  journey  by 
day.  These,  like  other  shrews,  are  often  found  lying  dead  on  the 
ground,  both  in  winter  and  summer,  having  been  killed  by  birds  or 
beasts  of  prey,  and  left  uneaten  on  account  of  their  disagreeable  odor; 

*  Mamm.  Adirondack  Reg.,  1886,  pp.  166-168. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        427 

and  such  are  usually  the  only  specimens  observed  by  farmers."  (/.  c., 
p.  94.) 

Dr.  John  T.  Plummer  of  Richmond,  Wayne  Co.,  Indiana,  gives 
a  most  interesting  account  of  the  habits  of  a  captive  animal  of  this 
species.*  A  specimen  which  he  secured  was  put  in  a  glass  vessel  five 
inches  deep  with  perpendicular  sides,  which  he  covered  with  a  book 
upon  which  was  placed  the  vertebra  of  a  horse.  To  his  astonishment 
(as  the  book  and  bone  together  weighed  upwards  of  a  pound)  the  Shrew 
succeeded  in  pushing  the  covering  sufficiently  far  to  one  side  to  enable 
it  to  escape  from  the  jar.  After  being  recaptured  and  placed  in  a  box, 
it  was  given  a  number  of  pieces  of  rotton  wood  which  it  arranged  to 
form  a  hiding  place,  leaving  several  openings  for  egress  and  ingress. 
Pieces  of  paper  and  rags  were  cut  into  small  pieces  by  the  animal  and 
formed  into  a  bed.  At  first  the  Shrew  was  shy  but  it  soon  learned  to 
take  a  worm  from  the  Doctor's  fingers  and  would  seize  it  so  firmly 
that  he  informs  us  he  was  able  to  raise  the  little  animal  into  the  air  by 
means  of  the  worm.  It  was  given  flesh  of  all  kinds,  fish,  coleopterous 
as  well  as  other  insects,  corn,  oats,  and  other  kinds  of  grain,  all  of 
which  appeared  to  be  acceptable  food.  "The  corcle  of  the  grains  of 
maize  was  always  eaten  out,  as  it  is  by  rats  and  mice."  When  water 
was  put  into  the  box  the  Shrew  "wet  his  tongue  two  or  three  times 
and  went  away;  but  when  worms  were  dropped  into  the  cup,  he 
returned,  waded  about  in  the  water,  snatched  up  his  victim,  maimed  it, 
stored  it  away,  and  returned  repeatedly  for  more  till  all  were  secured." 
A  full  grown  living  Mouse  was  put  into  the  box,  which  was  at  once 
fiercely  pursued  by  the  Shrew,  attacked  and  killed.  Another  Mouse 
met  with  the  same  fate. 

While  there  is  little  reason  to  believe  that  the  bite  of  this  Shrew  is 
more  toxic  than  that  of  any  other  of  our  small  mammals,  an  instance 
is  given  by  Mr.  C.  J.  Maynard,  where  its  effects  were  decidedly  unpleas- 
ant. He  states  that  while  holding  a  Short-tailed  Shrew,  which  he  had 
caught,  in  his  hand  the  animal  bit  him  three  times,  the  teeth  making 
slight  punctures  in  the  skin  barely  sufficient  to  draw  blood.  He  first 
noticed  a  burning  sensation  in  the  bitten  fingers,  which  soon  began  to 
swell  rapidly  and  the  skin  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  punctures 
turned  whitish.  The  burning  sensation  soon  was  accompanied  by 
shooting  pains  extending  to  the  elbow.  The  pains  persisted  with 
gradually  lessening  severity  for  a  week  and  did  not  entirely  subside 
for  nearly  a  fortnight,  or  until  the  swelling  had  entirely  disappeared.! 

Very  little  is  known  regarding  the  breeding  habits  of  this  species 

*  Amer.  Journ.  Sci.  &  Arts,  XLVI,  1844,  pp.  237-240. 
t  Contributions  to  Science,  I,  1889,  p.  57-58. 


428    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 

and,  so  far  as  I  am  aware,  nothing  definite  has  been  written  except  by 
Dr.  Merriam,  who  says:  "On  the  226.  of  April,  1878,  I  found  a  couple 
of  Shrews  under  a  plank-walk  near  my  museum.  They  proved  to  be 
a  male  and  female,  and  the  latter  contained  young  which,  from  their 
size,  would  probably  have  been  born  early  in  May.  Another  female, 
caught  near  the  same  place,  April  21,  1884,  contained  five  large  embryos 
which  would  certainly  have  been  born  within  ten  days.  They  weighed, 
together,  4.20  grammes.  I  procured  a  half  grown  young,  February 
10,  1884,  which  must  have  been  born  late  in  the  fall.  Hence  two  or 
three  litters  are  probably  produced  each  season.  The  young  born 
in  autumn  do  not  breed  in  the  spring  following,  as  I  have  demonstrated 
by  repeated  dissections  of  both  sexes"  (I.  c.,  pp.  172-173). 

Specimens  examined  from  Illinois,  Wisconsin  and  adjoining  states: 
Illinois  —  Chicago,  6;  Fox  Lake,  Lake  Co.,  skins,   16,  in  alcohol,  3; 

Camp  Logan,  Lake  Co.,  5;  Galena,  Jo  Daviess  Co.,  2  =  32. 
Michigan  —  Dowagiac,  Cass  Co.,  4. 
Minnesota  —  Aitkin,  i ;  Excelsior,  2  =  3. 

Wisconsin  —  Beaver  Dam,  Dodge  Co.,  26;  Solon  Springs,  Douglas 
Co.,  5;  Spread  Eagle,  Florence  Co.,  6;  Lac  Vieux  Desert,  Vilas 
Co.,  2;  Conover,  Vilas  Co.,  i;  (M.P.M.)  Douglas  Co.,  2;  Burnett 
Co.,  i;  Prescott,  Pierce  Co.,  8;  Maiden  Rock,  Pierce  Co.,  5;  Mil- 
waukee, 2;  Milwaukee  Co.,  3;  Delavan,  Wai  worth  Co.,  7;  Fountain 
City,  Buffalo  Co.,  i;  Prairie  du  Sac,  Sauk  Co.,  48=149. 

Blarina  brevicauda  carolinensis  (BACHMAN). 
CAROLINA  SHORT-TAILED  SHREW. 

Sorex  carolinensis  BACHMAN,  Journ.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  VII,  Pt.  2,  1837,  p.  366. 

Blarina  brevicauda  carolinensis  MERRIAM,  N.  Amer.  Fauna,  No.  10,  1895,  p.  13 
(Kentucky,  Tennessee,  Indiana,  etc.).  JACKSON,  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XX, 
1907,  p.  74  (S.  W.  Missouri).  RHOADS,  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  1896 
(1897),  p.  202  (Tennessee).  HAHN,  Ann.  Rept.  Dept.  Geol.  &  Nat.  Resources 
Ind.,  1908  (1909),  p.  601  (Indiana).  WOOD,  Bull.  111.  State  Lab.  Nat.  Hist., 
VIII,  1910,  p.  587  (Illinois). 

Type  locality  —  Eastern  South  Carolina. 

Distribution  —  Southern  United  States  (except  Florida) ,  north  to 
Virginia,  Illinois  and  Missouri,  and  west  to  Texas. 

Description  —  Similar  to  B.  brevicauda,  but  smaller  and  generally 
somewhat  browner;  general  color  dusky  plumbeous,  often  tinged 
with  brownish;  under  parts  somewhat  paler;  teeth  similar  to  B. 
brevicauda. 

Measurements  —  Total  length,  about  4  inches  or  less,  the  average 
measurements  of  20  specimens  being  3.82  in.  (97  mm.);  tail  verte- 
brae, about  .80  in.  (20  mm.);  hind  foot,  .50  in.  (12.7  mm.). 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.       429 

The  Carolina  Short-tailed  Shrew  replaces  the  northern  form,  B. 
brevicauda,  in  southern  Illinois,  probably  intergrading  with  it  in  the 
south  central  part  of  the  state.  The  Field  Museum  collection  contains 
specimens  from  Alexander,  Pope,  Johnson  and  Hardin  counties,  and 
Howell  records  it  from  the  vicinity  of  Shawneetown,  Gallatin  Co.  (/.  c., 
p.  32.)  Its  habits,  so  far  as  known,  are  similar  to  those  of  B.  brevicauda. 

Specimens  examined  from  Illinois : 

Illinois  —  Olive  Branch,  Alexander  Co.,  29  (14  in  alcohol);  Golconda, 
Pope  Co.,  3;  Reevesville,  Johnson  Co.,  5;  Rosiclaire,  Hardin  Co., 
6  =  43- 


H.   b.  peniniulx 

0 

B.  b.  compact* 

© 

B.  b.  mlogm 

0 

a    b.  tclmalette* 

© 


Map  showing  approximate  distribution  of  the  Shrews  belonging  to  the  subgenus  Blarina  in 

eastern  United  States. 


Blarina  brevicauda  (SAY).     Type  locality  —  Near  Blair,  Washington  Co.,  Nebraska. 

Description  as  previously  given. 
Blarina   b.   carolinensis    (BACHMAN).     Type   locality  —  Eastern    South   Carolina. 

Smaller  than  brevicauda;  description  as  previously  given. 


430    FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

Blarina  b.  compacta  BANGS.  (Proc.  N.  Engl.  Zool.  Club,  III,  1902,  p.  77.)  Type 
locality  —  Nantucket,  Nantucket  Island,  Massachusetts.  Size  about  that  of 
aloga;  color  slaty. 

Blarina  b.  aloga  BANGS.  (Proc.  N.  Engl.  Zool.  Club,  III,  1902,  p.  76.)  Type  lo- 
cality —  West  Tisbury,  Martha's  Vineyard,  Massachusetts.  Smaller  than 
brevicauda;  color  pale  brown. 

Blarina  b.  talpoides  (GAPPER).  (Zool.  Journ.,  V,  1830,  p.  202,  PL  VIII.)  Type 
locality  —  Between  York  and  Lake  Simcoe,  Ontario,  Canada.  Slightly  smaller 
but  otherwise  very  similar  to  brevicauda,  and  not  considered  by  the  writer  as 
worthy  of  recognition. 

Blarina  b.  peninsula  (MERRIAM).  (N.  Amer.  Fauna,  No.  10,  1895,  p.  14.)  Type  lo- 
cality—  Miami  River,  Dade  Co.,  Florida.  Similar  to  carolinensis,  but  color 
more  slaty  and  hind  feet  larger. 

Blarina  b.  hulophaga  ELLIOT.  (Field  Columb.  Mus.  Pub.,  Zool.  Ser.,  I,  1899,  p.  287.) 
Type  locality  —  Dougherty,  Washita  River,  Chickasaw  Nation,  Indian  Ter- 
ritory. Smaller  and  paler  than  brevicauda;  tail  shorter. 

Blarina  b.  telmalestes  (MERRIAM).  (N.  Amer.  Fauna,  No.  10,  1895,  p.  15.)  Type  lo- 
cality —  Dismal  Swamp,  Virginia.  Similar  to  brevicauda,  but  more  plumbeous; 
hind  feet  relatively  longer;  skull  narrower. 

Subgenus  CRYPTOTIS  Pomel. 

Teeth  30;  unicuspids  4,  but  the  fourth  usually  minute  (as  in  our 
species,  B.  parva,  in  which  it  is  hardly  visible) ;  basal  cusp  of  middle 
incisor  rounded;  brain-case  highest  anterior  to  lambdoid  suture. 

Blarina  parva  (SAY). 
SMALL  SHORT-TAILED  SHREW. 

Sorex  parvus  SAY,  Long's  Exped.  Rocky  Mts.,  I,  1823,  p.  164. 

Sorex  eximius  KENNICOTT,  Agr.  Rept.  for  1857,  U.  S.  Patent  Office  Rept.,  1858,  p.  97 

(Dekalb  Co.,  Illinois). 
Blarina  eximius  BAIRD,  Mammals  N.  Amer.,  1857,  p.  52  (St.  Louis,  Missouri;  Dekalb 

Co.,  Illinois). 
Blarina  exilipes  EVERMANN  &  BUTLER,  Proc.  Ind.  Acad.  Sci.,  1893  (1894),  p.  132 

(Indiana). 
Blarina  parva  MERRIAM,  N.  Amer.  Fauna,  No.  10,  1895,  p.  17  (Indiana,  Nebraska, 

etc.).  JACKSON,  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XX,  1907,  p.  74  (S.  W.  Missouri).  RHOADS 

Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  1896  (1897),  p.  202  (Tennessee).     HAHN,  Ann. 

Rept.  Dept.  Geol.  &  Nat.  Resources  Ind.,  1908  (1909),  p.  602  (Indiana).     WOOD, 

Bull.  111.  State  Lab.  Nat.  Hist.,  VIII,  1910,  p.  588  (Champaign  and  Mason 

counties,  Illinois). 

Type  locality  —  West  bank  of  Missouri  River,  near  Blair  (3  miles 
above  mouth  of  Boyer  River),  Nebraska. 

Distribution  —  Southern  United  States  (except  Florida) ;  from  Texas 
and  Nebraska  to  the  Atlantic  coast,  north  to  Illinois  and  Penn- 
sylvania. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        431 

Description  —  Size  very  small;  upper  parts  dark  hair-brown,  often 
approaching  sepia  brown;  under  parts  dull  ashy  gray;  tail  dark 
brown  above,  the  under  surface  like  the  belly;  fourth  upper  uni- 
cuspid  exceedingly  small  and  at  first  glance  apparently  absent, 
difficult  to  see  without  a  strong  lense'and  then  rarely  visible  from 
the  outside. 

Measurements  —  Total  length,  about  3.12  in.  (79.4  mm.);  tail  verte- 
brae, .60  in.  (16  mm.);  hind  foot,  .40  in.  (10.5  mm.). 


Small  Short-tailed  Shrew  (Blarina  parva). 

The  Small  Short-tailed  Shrew  is  common  in  southern  and  central 
Illinois,  and  probably  occurs  nearly  throughout  the  state,  as  it  is 
recorded  by  Kennicott  from  Dekalb  County.  (S.  eximius,  1.  c.,  p.  97.) 
There  are  specimens  in  the  Field  Museum  collection  from  Johnson, 
Alexander,  and  Hancock  counties;  Wood  reports  it  from  Mason  and 
Champaign  counties.  I  have  also  seen  specimens  from  Charleston, 
Coles  County,  collected  by  Mr.  T.  L.  Atkinson. 

Comparatively  little  is  known  regarding  its  habits,  although  they 
probably  differ  but  little  from  those  of  the  larger  species.  It  seems  to 
prefer  overgrown  grassy  localities.  Hahn  states  that  in  Indiana  all 
the  specimens  he  collected  were  taken  in  "grassy  places,  usually  where 
briars  and  shrubs  were  mingled  with  the  grass,  but  never  in  the  woods" 


432     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

(I,  c.,  p.  604).  Specimens  have  been  taken  in  open  woodland  in  south- 
ern Illinois  in  much  the  same  localities  as  are  frequented  by  B.  caroli- 
nensis. 

Specimens  examined  from  Illinois: 
Illinois  —  Olive  Branch,  Alexander  Co.,  10;  Reevesville,  Johnson  Co., 

2;  Warsaw,  Hancock  Co.,  3;  (O.)  Charleston,  Coles  Co.,  2  =  17. 


Map  showing  supposed  range  of  the  Small  Short-tailed  Shrews  belonging  to  the  subgenus  Cryptotis 

in  eastern  United  States. 


Blarina  parva  (SAY).  Type  locality  —  West  bank  of  Missouri  River,  near  Blair 
(3  miles  above  mouth  of  Boyer  River),  Nebraska.  Description  as  previously 
given. 

Blarina  floridana  MERRIAM.  (N.  Amer.  Fauna,  No.  10,  1895,  p.  19,  PI.  I.)  Type 
locality  —  Chester  Shoal,  n  miles  north  of  Cape  Canaveral,  Brevard  Co., 
Florida.  Similar  to  parva,  but  larger;  also  cranial  differences. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.       433 


Family  TALPID^.      Moles. 

The  Moles  are  allied  to  the  Shrews,  but  differ  in  having  a  zygoma- 
tic  arch  and  audital  bullae,  as  well  as  in  the  form  of  the  teeth.  The 
last  are  white  and  not  red-tipped  as  in  our  species  of  Shrews.  The 
fur  is  soft  and  velvety;  the  eyes  are  very  small  and  often  rudimentary. 
There  is  no  noticeable  external  ear;  the  fore  feet  are  very  large,  being 
greatly  modified  for  digging;  and  the  neck  is  so  short  as  to  be  appar- 
ently lacking.  The  sternum  is  provided  with  a  well  developed  "keel" 
which  supports  the  large  pectoral  muscle  required  on  account  of  the 
burrowing  habits  of  these  animals;  the  caecum  is  absent. 

The  members  of  the  family  are  confined,  so  far  as  known,  to  the 
temporate  regions  of  North  America,  Europe  and  Asia.  Most  of  the 
species  live  in  burrows  in  the  ground  and  a  few  are  semi-aquatic. 
Their  food  consists  principally  of  insects,  ants,  worms,  etc.  Five 
genera  and  about  20  species  and  subspecies  are  found  in  North  America, 
of  which  two  genera,  one  species  and  one  subspecies  occur  within  our 
limits. 

The  European  Mole  (Talpa  europaa)  was  the  subject  of  much 
discussion  by  ancient  naturalists.  The  earliest  writers  considered 
it  to  be  a  kind  of  blind  Mouse  but  Topsell  takes  exception  to  this, 
stating  that  all  Mice  have  "two  longe  crooked  foreteeth  which  is  not 
in  Moles."  He  also  says,  "These  beasts  are  all  blind  and  want  eies, 
and  therefore  came  the  proverbe,  Talpa  cacior  tuphloteros  alpalacos, 
blinder  than  a  Mole;  to  signifie,  a  man  without  all  judgment,  wit,  or 
fore-sight;  for  it  is  most  elegantly  applyed  to  the  minde,  yet  if  any 
man  looke  earnestly  upon  the  places  where  the  eies  should  grow,  he 
shall  perceive  a  little  passage,  by  drawing  up  the  membrane  or  little 
skinne  which  is  black,  and  therefore  of  them  in  this  manner  probably. 

"All  kinds  of  Moles  want  their  sight,  because  they  have  not  their 
eies  open  and  naked  as  other  beasts,  but  if  a  man  pull  up  the  skinne  of 
their  browes  about  the  place  of  their  eies,  which  is  thicke  and  shawd- 
oweth  their  sight,  he  shal  perceive  in  them  inward  covered  eies : 
the  young  ones  before  birth  have  eies,  but  after  birth,  living  continually 
in  the  darke  earth  without  light,  they  cease  to  grow  to  any  perfection; 
for  indeede  they  neede  them  not."* 

Proof  of  the  antiquity  of  the  proverb,  "Even  a  worm  will  turn,"  is 
shown  in  Topsell 's  account  of  the  habits  of  these  animals.  He  says: 
"When  the  wormes  are  followed  by  Molds  (for  by  digging  and  heaving 

*  Historie  of  Foure  Footed  Beastes,  London,  1607,  p.  499. 


434    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 

they  fore-know  their  owne  perdition)  they  flie  to  the  superficies  and 
very  toppe  of  the  earth,  the  silly  beast  knowing  that  the  Molde  their 
adversary,  dare  not  follow  them  into  the  light,  so  that  their  wit  in 
flying  their  enemy  is  greater,  than  in  turning  againe  when  they  are 
troade  upon"  (/.  c.,  p.  500). 

There  was  a  curious  ancient  superstition  in  England  concerning 
these  animals  to  the  effect  that  "if  you  whet  a  mowing  syth  in  a  fielde 
or  meddow  upon  the  feast  day  of  Christs  nativity,  (commonly  called 
Christmas  day)  all  the  Molles  that  are  within  the  hearing  thereof, 
will  certainly  for  ever  forsake  that  field,  meadow  or  Garden. " 


Subfamily    TALPIN^. 
KEY  TO   OUR   GENERA. 

End  of  muzzle  with  fringe  of  fleshy  projections;   tail  more  than  2  inches  long; 

number  of  teeth  44.  Genus  CONDYLURA,  p.  440. 

End  of  muzzle  without  fringe  of  fleshy  projections;  tail  about  i   inch  long  and 

nearly  naked;  fore  feet  very  large;  number  of  teeth  36. 

Genus  SCALOPUS,  p.  434. 

Genus  SCALOPUS  Geoffrey. 

Scalopus    Geoffrey,    Cat.    Mamm.    Mus.   d'Hist.   Nat.,    1803,  p.    77. 

Palmer,  N.  Amer.  Fauna,  No.  23,  1904,  p.  620.     Type  Scalopus 

virginianus  Geoffrey  =  Sorex  aquaticus  Linn. 

Palate  long;  audital  bullas  present;  infraorbital  foramen  opening 
into  a  large,  nearly  horizontal  aperture  extending  from  above  anterior 
end  of  zygoma;  first  upper  incisor  large,  2d  and  3d  very  small;  no 
functional  lower  canine  ;  lower  incisors  2  ;  end  of  muzzle  without  fringe 
of  fleshy  projections;  tail  short  and  nearly  naked;  fore  feet  very  large; 

hind  feet  webbed.     The  milk  dentition  is  I.  ^^,  C.  ^—  ^»  Pm.  ^^> 
,-,  3-3        i-i  3-3 


3-3 

Dental  formula  (adult):  I.  ^^>  C.^—  ^»  Pm.  ^-,  M.  ^^ 

2-2        o-o  3-3         3-3 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        435 

Scalopus  aquaticus  machrinus  (RAFINESQUE). 
PRAIRIE  MOLE. 

Talpa  machrina  RAFINESQUE,  Atlantic  Journal,  I,  1832,  p.  61. 

Scalops  argentatus  LAPHAM,  Trans.  Wis.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  II,  1852  (1853),  p.  338 
(Wisconsin).  KENNICOTT,  Trans.  111.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  I,  1853-54  (1855),  p.  578 
(Cook  Co.,  Illinois).  Ib.,  Agr.  Rept.  for  1857,  U.  S.  Patent  Office  Rept.,  1858, 
p.  97  (Illinois,  etc.).  THOMAS,  Trans.  111.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  IV,  1859-60  (1861), 
p.  653  (Illinois).  ALLEN,  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  XIII,  1869  (1871),  p.  187 
(Iowa).  STRONG,  Geol.  Wis.,Surv.  1873-79, I.  l883.  P-438  (Wisconsin).  ELLIOT, 
Field  Columb.  Mus.  Pub.,  Zool.  Ser.,  I,  1898,  p.  220  (Iowa). 

Scalops  aquaticus  MILES,  Rept.  Geol.  Surv.  Mich.,  I,  1860  (1861),  p.  219  (Michigan). 
HERRICK,  Geol.  &  Nat.  Hist.  Surv.  Minn.,  Bull.  No.  7,  1892,  p.  51  (Minne- 
sota). EVERMANN  &  BUTLER  Proc.  Ind.  Acad.  Sci.,  1893  (1894),  p.  133  (In- 
diana). 

Scalopus  aquaticus  machrinus  JACKSON,  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XX,  1907,  p.  74 
(S.W.  Missouri).  Ib.,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  VII,  1910,  p.  90  (Wisconsin). 
HOLLISTER,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  VI,  1908,  p.  142  (Wisconsin).  HOWELL, 
Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XXIII,  1910,  p.  33  (Illinois,  Missouri,  Kentucky). 
WOOD,  Bull.  111.  State  Lab.  Nat.  Hist.,  VIII,  1910,  p.  589  (Illinois). 

Scalops  aquaticus  machrinus  HAHN,  Ann.  Rept.  Dept.  Geol.  &  Nat.  Resources 
Ind.,  1908  (1909),  p.  610  (Indiana).  VAN  HYNING  &  PELLETT,  Proc.  Iowa 
Acad.  Sci.,  XVII,  1910,  p.  215  (Iowa).  EVERMANN  &  CLARK,  Proc.  Wash. 
Acad.  Sci.,  XII,  1911,  p.  33  (Indiana). 

Type  locality  —  Near  Lexington,  Fayette  Co.,  Kentucky. 
Distribution  —  From  Kentucky  and  Ohio  throughout  Indiana,  Illinois, 
Missouri,    southern    Michigan,    southern   Wisconsin    to    southern 
Minnesota,  eastern  South  Dakota  and  Nebraska. 

Description  —  Fore  feet  and  toe- 
nails  enormously  developed  for 
size  of  the  animal;  pelage  soft 
and  " velvety";  general  color 
slaty  brown,  somewhat  paler 
on  the  under  parts  and  often 
tinged  with  rusty;  tail  nearly 
naked;  the  largest  of  our 
Moles.  The  fore  foot  at  its 
Skull  of  Prairie  Mole.  greatest  width  measures  about 

three-quarters  of  an  inch. 

Measurements  —  Total  length,  about  6.75  in.  (171.5  mm.);  tail  verte- 
bras, i  to  1. 10  in.  (25  to  28  mm.);  hind  foot,  about  .95  in.  (23  to 
26  mm.). 


436    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 


FEB.,  1912.      MAMMALS  or  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        437 

The  Prairie  Mole  is  common  throughout  Illinois  and  at  least  the 
southern  half  of  Wisconsin,  as  I  have  examined  specimens  from  Prescott 
County,  and  Hollister  records  it  from  Camp  Douglas,  Juneau  Co.  (/.  c., 
p.  142).  It  is  quite  common  in  the  vicinity  of  Chicago  and  I  have  seen 
a  dozen  specimens  taken  in  or  near  the  city  limits,  including  two  from 
Jackson  Park.  Jackson  states  he  saw  what  he  assumed  to  be  ridges 
made  by  this  species  at  Galesville  and  Trempealeau,  Trempealeau  Co., 
Durand,  Pepin  Co.,  and  Menomonie,  Dunn  Co.  (1.  c.,  1910,  p.  90). 
From  Illinois  the  Field  Museum  collection  contains  specimens  from 
the  northern,  southern  and  western  portions  of  the  state.  Wood  re- 
ports it  from  Champaign  County  (/.  c.,  p.  589);  Howell  records  it  as 
common  in  Madison,  Alexander,  Jefferson,  Richland  and  Pope  counties 
(/.  c.,  1910,  p.  33). 

The  Prairie  Mole  is  a  burrowing  animal  and  lives  almost  its  entire 
life-time  beneath  the  surface  of  the  ground.  Its  huge  fore  feet  are 
especially  adapted  for  digging,  enabling  it  to  excavate  subterranean 
galleries  with  ease.  The  results  of  its  labors  are  often  in  evidence  in 
lawns  and  gardens,  in  the  shape  of  irregular  ridges  of  earth  which  mark 
the  course  of  its  underground  passages.  The  distance  which  under 
favorable  conditions  an  animal  of  this  species  can  dig  in  a  single  night  is 
almost  incredible.  Audubon  and  Bachman  state  that  one  has  been 
known  to  excavate  a  gallery  several  hundred  yards  in  length,  and 
Dr.  Merriam  informs  us  that  he  traced  a  fresh  made  burrow  for  nearly 
one  hundred  yards.*  Moles  are  of  decided  benefit  to  the  agriculturist, 
as  their  food  consists  largely  of  worms  and  insects  of  various  kinds. 
They  are  also  flesh  eaters  as  well,  and  in  captivity  will  eagerly  eat 
fresh  meat,  but  they  are  not  vegetable  feeders,  although  the  depreda- 
tions of  Field  Mice,  which  make  use  of  their  runways,  are  often  un- 
justly laid  at  their  door. 

Regarding  the  habits  of  these  animals  Robert  Kennicott  says: 
"The  proper  food  of  this  animal,  like  that  of  all  other  moles,  is  principal- 
ly insects,  in  search  of  which,  it  passes  along  just  below  the  surface, 
raising  the  earth  so  as  to  form  a  ridge,  whereby  its  track  is  readily 
traced  in  summer,  when  it  does  not  usually  go  beyond  2  or  4  inches 
deep  for  food,  except  in  very  dry  weather  —  the  insects  lying  mostly 
near  the  surface.  Its  habits  in  winter  are  not  well  known,  though  it 
is  certainly  active  at  this  time,  when  it  doubtless  travels  readily  below 
the  reach  of  frost,  in  search  of  food,  to  which  depth  some  kinds  of 
insects  then  descend.  It  appears  incapable  of  enduring  much  cold, 
hpwever,  and,  though  one  has  been  known  to  come  to  the  surface 
occasionally  during  thaws  in  winter,  it  is  never  observed  to  come  out 
in  severe  weather,  as  its  hardy  relatives,  the  shrews,  habitually  do. 

*  Mamm.  Adirondack  Reg.,  1886,  p.  155. 


438     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

"The  nest  of  this  species  is  of  considerable  size,  formed  of  soft 
grass,  leaves,  etc.,  the  materials  being  sometimes  carried  by  the  moles 
for  several  rods  under  ground.  It  is  situated  in  a  chamber  from  6  to  10 
and  even  18  inches  below  the  surface,  and  is  commonly  under  a  log  or 
stump,  if  in  the  woods.  The  chamber  is  approached  by  numerous 


Map  illustrating  the  approximate  distribution  of  the  Moles  belonging  to  the  genus  Scalopus  in 
eastern  United  States. 

Scalopus  aquations  (LiNN^us).  (Syst.  Nat.,  X  ed.,  I,  1858,  p.  53.)  Type  lo- 
cality—  Eastern  United  States.  Color  grayish  brown;  similar  to  machrinus, 
but  smaller  and  averaging  slightly  darker;  total  length  about  6.50  inches. 

Scalopus  a.  machrinus  (RAFINESQUE).  Type  locality  —  Lexington,  Fayette  Co., 
Kentucky.  Total  length  about  6.75  inches;  description  as  previously  given. 

Scalopus  a.  australis  (CHAPMAN).  (Bull.  Amer.  Mus.  Nat.  Hist.,  V,  1893,  p.  339.) 
Type  locality  —  Gainesville,  Florida.  Resembles  aquaticus  but  is  smaller  and 
slightly  browner;  total  length  about  5.50  inches. 

Scalopus  anastasa  (BANGS).  (Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  XXVIII,  1898,  p.  212".) 
Type  locality  —  Anastasia  Island,  near  St.  Augustine,  Florida.  About  size 
of  australis.  but  skull  shorter  and  heavier;  color  golden  brown. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        439 

converging  galleries,  some  of  which  descend  below  the  level  of  the 
chamber  itself,  entering  it  from  beneath.  Those  roads  which  are 
most  traveled  by  the  moles  are  of  larger  size  than  those  formed  only 
in  search  of  food. 

"When  a  mole  is  liberated  upon  the  ground,  it  does  not  attempt  to 
run,  but  digs  directly  down,  and  will  bury  itself  in  a  remarkably  short 
time.  When  one  is  alarmed,  while  burrowing,  it  digs  deeper. 

"The  number  of  young  produced  at  a  birth  appears  to  be  variable. 
The  closely  allied  Scalops  aquaticus  was  observed  in  one  instance  to 
bring  forth  five,  and  in  another  nine;  and  this  species  might  be  ex- 
pected sometimes  to  be  equally  prolific.  A  gentleman  of  Winchester 
writes  me  that,  in  the  latter  part  of  February,  he  found  a  pair  of  moles, 
male  and  female,  in  their  nest;  and  upon  dissection,  the  female  proved 
to  be  gravid  with  two  young,  fully  formed,  clothed  with  hair,  and 
apparently  about  to  be  brought  forth.  A  gentleman  of  Diamond 
Grove  states  that,  as  observed  by  him,  the  moles  produce  two  or  three 
young  about  the  last  of  May;  while  at  Beverly,  Adams  Co.,  they 
have  been  known  to  produce  four  about  the  ist  of  July.  If  these  in- 
formants have  made  no  mistakes  in  their  dates,  this  would  indicate 
that  at  least  two  litters  are  produced  in  a  year."  (/.  c.,  pp.  98-99.) 

Specimens  examined  from  Illinois  and  adjoining  states: 
Illinois  —  Olive  Branch,  Alexander  Co.,  i;  Rosiclaire,  Hardin  Co.,  i; 

Chicago,  ii ;  Warsaw,  9;  Joliet,  i;  Ozark,  Johnson  Co.,  1  =  24. 
Michigan  —  Dowagiac,  Cass  Co.,  i. 
Iowa  —  Knoxville,  i. 
Wisconsin —  (M.  P.  M.)  Maiden  Rock,  Pierce  Co.,  3;  Prescott,  Pierce 

Co.,  8;  Fountain  City,  Buffalo  Co.,  3;  Wyalusing,  Grant  Co.,  4=  18. 

Parascalops  breweri  (BACHMAN),  BREWER'S  MOLE,  is  claimed 
to  have  been  taken  in  Indiana,  but  so  far  as  known  its  range  does  not 
extend  so  far  west  as  Illinois.  Regarding  its  occurrence  in  Indiana, 
Hahn  says:  "There  are  two  specimens  in  the  Indiana  University 
Collection,  correctly  identified,  catalogued  and  labelled  as  coming  from 
Bloomington,  Indiana.  I  do  not  place  much  credence  in  these  labels 
and  am  not  willing  to  record  the  species  as  occurring  in  the  state  on 
the  basis  of  these  specimens.  But  its  occurrence  is  not  beyond  the 
range  of  probability." 

Brewer's  Mole  resembles  somewhat  the  Common  Mole  (Scalopus), 
the  snout  being  simple  without  fleshy  projections;  but  it  may  readily 
be  distinguished  by  the  number  of  teeth  (44),  and  the  cylindrical 
blunt  tail,  constricted  at  the  base,  and  thickly  covered  with  long  hairs. 


440    FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 


Genus  CONDYLURA  Illiger. 

Condylura  Illiger,  Prodr.  Syst.  Mamm.  et  Avium,  1811,  p.  125.     Type 

Sorex  cristatus  Linn. 

End  of  muzzle  surrounded  by  numerous  fleshy  projections,  "star 
shaped,"  the  nostrils  being  in  the  center;  tail  comparatively  long 
(about  2.75  in.)  and  thicker  in  the  middle  than  at  the  base;  second 
upper  and  third  lower  incisors  very  small;  bullae  incomplete. 

Dental  formula:  I.  ^>  C.^—^,  Pm.  —  - 
-  -  - 


3-3         I  -i  4-4         3-3 

Condylura  cristata  (LINN.). 
STAR-NOSED  MOLE. 

[Sorex]  cristatus  LINN^US,  Syst.  Nat.,  X  ed.,  I,  1758,  p.  53. 

Condylura  cristata  LAPHAM,  Trans.  Wis.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  II,  1852  (1853),  p.  338 
(Wisconsin).  KENNICOTT,  Trans.  111.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  I,  1853-54  (l855),  p.  5?8 
(Cook  Co.,  Illinois).  /&.,  Agr.  Rept.  for  1857,  U.  S.  Patent  Office  Kept.,  1858, 
p.  101  (Illinois,  etc.).  THOMAS,  Trans.  111.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  IV,  1859-60  (1861), 
p.  653  (Illinois).  MILES,  Rept.  Geol.  Surv.  Mich.,  I,  1860  (1861),  p.  219  (Mich- 
igan). ALLEN,  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  XIII,  1869  (1871),  p.  187  (Iowa). 
STRONG,  Geol.  Wis.,  Surv.  1873-79,  I.  J883,  p.  438  (Wisconsin).  BAILEY, 
Rept.  Orn.  &  Mamm.,  U.  S.  Dept.  Agr.,  1887,  p.  435  (Minnesota).  HERRICK, 
Geol.  &  Nat.  Hist.  Surv.  Minn.,  Bull.  No.  7,  1892,  p.  55  (Minnesota).  SNYDER, 
Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  II,  1902,  p.  32  (Wisconsin).  ADAMS,  Rept.  State 
Board  Geol.  Surv.  Mich.,  1905  (1906),  p.  130  (Michigan).  HAHN,  Ann.  Rept. 
Dept.  Geol.  &  Nat.  Resources  Ind.,  1908  (1909),  p.  613  (Indiana).  WOOD, 
Bull.  111.  State  Lab.  Nat.  Hist.,  VIII,  1910,  p.  583  (Illinois).  JACKSON,  Bull. 
Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  VIII,  1910,  p.  90  (Wisconsin). 

Type  locality  —  Pennsylvania. 

Distribution  —  Eastern  North  America  north  to  about  latitude  51°, 

from  Manitoba  to  the  Atlantic  coast,  south  to  central  Illinois  and 

Virginia  and  in  the  Allegheny  Mountains  at  least  to  North  Car- 

olina and  Tennessee. 
Description-  —  End   of  muzzle   surrounded   by   "star-shaped,"   fleshy 

projections;    general    color    smoky    brown,    slightly   paler   below; 

tail  more  or  less  covered  with  blackish  hairs;  fore  feet  noticeably 

large,  but  smaller  than  those  of  the  common  Mole. 
Measurements  —  Total  length,  about  7  in.  (178  mm.);  tail  vertebrae, 

about  2.75  in.  (70  mm.);  hind  foot  with  claw,  1.05  in.  (26.5  mm.). 

The  Star-nosed  Mole  is  found  throughout  Wisconsin  and  at  least 
as  far  south  as  Edgar  Co.  in  Illinois,  although  records  for  the  state  are 
by  no  means  numerous.  I  have  seen  a  specimen  taken  near  Warsaw; 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        441 


Star-nosed  Mole  (Condylura  cristala). 

Seton  records  it  from  western  Illinois:*  Kennicott,  from  Edgar  and 
Cook  counties;  and  Wood  from  Champaign  County. 

Wisconsin  specimens  have  been  examined  from  Newbold,  Forest  Co.; 
Medford,  Taylor  Co.;  Merrill,  Lincoln  Co.;  and  there  is  a  skull  in 
the  collection  of  Dr.  H.  V.  Ogden  from  Mercer,  Iron  Co.  Jackson 
records  it  from  Stevens  Point,  Portage  Co.  (I,  c.,  1908,  p.  32);  and 
from  Whitcomb,  Shawano  Co.,  and  Bayfield,  Bayfield  Co.  (/.  c.,  1910, 
p.  90). 

This  species  prefers  low  meadows  and  marshy  ground,  although 
it  also  frequents  dry  localities  where  the  soil  is  loose,  such  as  gardens 
and  ploughed  fields.  It  is  found  more  commonly,  however,  in  the 
vicinity  of  water  and  according  to  various  authors  is  a  good  swimmer 
and  quite  at  home  in  the  water.  Dr.  C.  Hart  Merriam  says,  "In 
gardens  and  ploughed  ground  they  often  work  so  near  the  surface  that 
a  ridge  of  loose  earth  is  upheaved  along  the  course  of  their  tunnels. 
In  meadows  and  pasture  lands,  on  the  contrary,  the  galleries  are  not 
marked  by  surface  ridges,  for  the  simple  reason  that  they  cannot 

*  Life  Histories  of  Northern  Animals,  II.  1909,  map,  p.  1138. 


442     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 

readily  force  their  way  through  the  tough  sod,  but  excavate  their 
burrows  immediately  beneath.  Late  in  the  autumn,  when  the  ground 
becomes  frozen  to  the  depth  of  two  or  three  inches,  the  Moles  sink 
their  galleries  into  the  soft  earth  below,  and  as  winter  advances  they 
doubtless  continue  to  deepen  them  sufficiently  to  avoid  the  frozen 
ground."* 

Audubon  and  Bachman  say:  "In  a  few  localities  where  we  were 
in  the  habit,  many  years  ago,  of  obtaining  the  Star-nosed  Mole,  it 
was  always  found  on  the  banks  of  rich  meadows  near  running  streams. 
The  galleries  did  not  run  so  near  the  surface  as  those  of  the  common 
Shrew  Mole.  We  caused  one  of  the  galleries  to  be  dug  out,  and  ob- 
tained a  nest  containing  three  young,  apparently  a  week  old.  The 
radiations  on  the  nose  were  so  slightly  developed  that  until  we  carefully 
examined  them  we  supposed  they  were  the  young  of  the  common  Shrew 
Mole.  The  nest  was  spacious,  composed  of  withered  grasses,  and 


Map  illustrating  supposed  range  of  the  Star-nosed  Mole  (Condylura  cristata)  in  eastern  North 

America. 

*  Mamm.  Adirondack  Reg.,  1886,  p.  146. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.       443 

situated  in  a  large  excavation  under  a  stump.  The  old  ones  had  made 
their  escape,  and  we  endeavored  to  preserve  the  young;  but  the  want 
of  proper  nourishment  caused  their  death  in  a  couple  of  days."* 

A  nest  found  by  Dr.  Merriam  is  described  as  being  about  two  feet 
beneath  the  surface  in  clay  soil  and  under  a  stump.  "It  was  com- 
posed of  grass,  and  from  it  a  passage  led  to  a  vegetable  garden  near 
by"  (/.  c.,  p.  151). 

The  food  of  the  Star-nosed  Mole  is  apparently  about  the  same  as- 
that  of  the  Prairie  Mole.  It  lives  largely  upon  insects  and  worms, 
but  like  the  common  species  will  eat  Mice  and  meat  in  captivity. 

Mr.  Ernest  Thompson  Seton  gives  an  interesting  account  of  the 
habits  of  a  captive  animal  of  this  species.  He  says: 

"On  July  7,  1909,  at  Cos  Cob,  Conn.,  I  received  an  adult  male 
Star-nosed  Mole  captured  alive  by  a  stream,  not  in  the  water,  but 
running  along  a  mossy  bank. 

"With  the  help  of  a  commodious  cage  I  made  a  number  of  observa- 
tions. When  put  in  deep  water  he  swam  swiftly  and  strongly.  He 
progressed  largely  by  the  skulling  action  of  his  tail,  but  also  swam  with 
all  four  feet,  striking  alternately,  never  by  striking  with  both  hind-feet 
at  once,  as  most  truly  aquatic  quadrupeds  do  occasionally.  He  did 
not  dive,  and  always  endeavored  to  get  out  of  the  water  as  quickly  as 
possible.  *  *  * 

"In  the  middle  of  each  day  he  curled  up  and  slept  for  two  or  three 
hours.  At  night  he  was  very  active. 

"When  given  a  pile  of  loose  earth  in  which  were  many  worms  he 
showed  great  delight,  and  dived  again  and  again  through  the  pile, 
sometimes  coming  out  with  a  worm,  and  suggested  an  Otter  diving  in  a 
salmon  river.  *  *  * 

"As  soon  as  the  above-named  captive  was  caged,  I  gave  him  12 
grammes  of  common  worms.  He  paid  no  heed  for  half  an  hour,  but 
then  aroused  himself  and  fell  on  the  worms  with  great  demonstration, 
continually  twiddling  them  with  his  22  nose-fingers.  Though  avid,  he 
ate  them  slowly,  holding  them  with  his  fore-claws  and  tearing  them  up 
before  devouring.  In  half  an  hour  all  were  gone.  This  was  at  noon; 
at  1:45  he  seemed  ravenous  again.  I  gave  him  a  similar  amount  of 
worms,  also  3  cutworm  grubs;  these  latter  he  ignored  while  the  former 
lasted.  Towards  night  I  gave  the  Mole  about  2  ounces  of  raw  beef, 
of  which  y$  only  was  lean,  the  rest  fat.  In  the  morning  all  the  lean  was 
eaten  and  all  the  fat  rejected. 

"Now  a  newly  killed  Deer-mouse  was  offered  to  him.  He  sprang 
on  this  with  much  demonstration  and  little  effect.  After  twiddling  it 

*  Quadrupeds  of  N.  Amer.,  II,  1851,  pp.  141-142. 


444    FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 

all  over,  he  began  on  the  eyes  and  then  ate  the  brains  where  the  head 
had  been  crushed  by  the  trap,  turning  back  the  skin.  By  next  morning 
the  Deer-mouse  (it  weighed  more  than  the  Mole)  was  devoured,  except 
the  skin,  which  was  neatly  turned  inside  out,  and  the  bones — even  the 
smallest  ribs  were  left  intact  and  quite  clean.  During  the  previous 
evening  he  ate  also  8  grammes  of  worms.  I  found,  however,  that  he 
preferred  the  large  fat  white  grubs  that  are  found  under  manure  piles 
(Lachnosterna  fuse  a) ;  for  these  he  neglected  both  worms  and  Mouse. 
A  large  blue  wasp  he  would  not  touch;  also  a  stag-beetle  and  he  lived 
amicably  together  till  the  end.  He  refused  several  kinds  of  farinaceous 
food."  f 

The  curious  fleshy  projections  on  the  end  of  the  snout,  from  which 
the  animal  has  derived  its  name,  are  believed  to  possess  highly  sensi- 
tive, tactile  functions. 

Specimens  examined  from  Illinois  and  Wisconsin: 
Illinois  —  (O.),  Warsaw,  Hancock  Co.,  i. 
Wisconsin — (M.  P.  M.),  Newbold,  Forest  Co.,  i;  Medford,  Taylor 

Co.,  2;  Merrill,  Lincoln  Co.,  i ;  (O.  C.),  Mercer,  Iron  Co.  (skull),  1  =  5. 

t  Life  Histories  of  Northern  Animals,  II,  1909,  pp.  1141-42-43. 


ORDER  CHIROPTERA. 

BATS. 

The  order  is  divided  into  two  suborders:  the  Megachiroptera  or 
Fruit-eating  Bats,  containing  the  Old  World  family  Pteropodida,  or  so- 
called  Flying  Foxes;  and  the  Microchiroptera,  which  includes  the  rest 
of  the  Bats  and  is  the  only  one  represented  in  North  America. 

Bats  are  flying  mammals,  being  supplied  with  a  leathery  membrane 
supported  by  enormously  elongated  ringers  and  attached  to  the  hind 

legs  and  sides  of  the  body,  which  serves 
as  a  wing.  In  addition  to  the  four  elong- 
ated fingers  supporting  the  wing  mem- 
brane, there  is  a  detached  thumb  or  pollex, 
which  projects  from  the  upper  margin 
and  is  provided  with  a  hooked  claw. 
From  the  inner  side  of  the  ankle  joint 
projects  a  cartilaginous  process  called 

sj£&m&&  the  calcar,  which  supports  a  portion  of 

the  membrane  joining  the  legs  and  tail 
known  as  the  interfemoral  membrane. 
Another  noticeable  character  in  Bats 
belonging  to  the  suborder  Microchirop- 
iera  is  the  highly  developed  tragus,  a 
process  arising  within  the  conch  of  the 
ear,  which  varies  in  shape  and  size  in  many  species,  and  is  often  of 
diagnostic  value.  Noticeable  peculiarities  in  the  myology  of  these 
animals  are  found  in  the  presence  of  a  muscle,  known  as  the  occipito- 
pollicalis,  extending  from  the  occipital  bone  to  the  terminal  phalanx  of 
the  pollex  and  in  the  divided  sections  of  the  platysma.  Other  important 
characters  are :  radius  long  and  curved ;  ulna  rudimentary ;  knee  bend- 
ing backward  (owing  to  connection  with  the  wing  membrane) ;  fibula 
rudimentary;  mammae  thoracic;  placenta  discoidal  and  deciduate; 
testes  abdominal  or  inguinal;  cerebral  hemispheres  smooth  and  not 
extending  backward  over  the  cerebellum;  presternum  with  noticeable 
"keel";  dental  series  including  incisors,  canines,  premolars  and  molars; 
the  number  of  teeth  variable,  but  never  more  than  38;  milk  teeth 
unlike  those  of  the  permanent  series.  All  Bats  belonging  to  the  sub- 
order Microchiroptera  have  the  crowns  of  the  molars  sharply  tuber- 
culate. 

445 


446    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

The  hairs  of  Bats  often  show  a  decided  difference  in  structural 
characters  in  members  of  different  families.  In  some  species  of  Mo- 
lossidce,  for  example,  the  hair  when  viewed  under  a  powerful  microscope 
shows  zones  or  rings  of  verticulate  spinules  (Fig.  a),  while  in  many 
species  belonging  to  the  family  Vespertilionidoe  the  spinules  or  scales  are 
arranged  in  a  continuous  spiral  (Fig.  b),  or  in  irregular  imbricated  tri- 
angles (Fig.  d).  Judging  from  a  number  of  specimens  I  have  examined, 
while  the  hairs  of  Bats  belonging  to  allied  species  seem  to  be  of  the 
same  general  pattern,  they  are  by  no  means  alike  and  there  is  usually 
considerable  variation  even  in  hairs  from  the  same  animal. 


Hairs  of  Bats. 

a,  Nyctinomus  depressus;  b,  Pipistrellus  subflavus;  c,  Myotis  californicus;  A,  Lasionycteris  nocti- 
vagans;  e,  Corynorhinus  macrotis.  (Greatly  enlarged.) 

Bats  differ  widely  in  appearance  and  mode  of  life  from  other  mam- 
mals and  their  place  in  Nature  was  a  debatable  question  among  the 
older  naturalists.  Aristotle  defined  them  as  birds  with  skinny  wings; 
Pliny  also  considered  them  birds,  although  he  states  that  the  young 
are  born  alive  and  suckled  by  the  mother.  Later  writers  recognized 
them  as  mammals,  but  differed  as  to  their  classification.  Linnaeus 
ranked  them  with  the  Primates  on  account  of  the  number  of  upper 
incisors  (supposed  at  that  time  to  be  always  4),  the  thoracic  position 
of  the  mammas,  the  placental,  uterine,  and  other  anatomical  char- 
acters. Prof.  Huxley,  however,  later  considered  them  to  be  merely 
greatly  modified  Insectivora  but  representing  a  well  marked  order, 
and  his  opinion  has  generally  been  accepted  by  modern  zoologists. 

Bats  are  gregarious,  nocturnal  and  crepuscular.  They  sleep  most 
of  the  day  gathered  together  in  dark  places,  such  as  caves,  hollow  trees 
and  in  old  buildings.  When  at  rest  they  usually  suspend  themselves 
by  the  claws  of  their  hind  feet  and  hang  head  downward.  They 
are  unable  to  move  about  on  the  ground  except  with  much  difficulty, 
largely  on  account  of  the  peculiar  structure  of  their  hind  legs  (the 
knee  bending  backward  instead  of  forward),  and  when  forced  to  do 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.       447 

so,  they  hitch  themselves  along  clumsily  and  with  evident  effort. 
They  vary  greatly  in  size,  from  an  animal  smaller  than  a  House  Mouse 
to  the  great  (for  this  family)  Pteropus  edulis,  a  species  inhabiting  Java 
and  the  Philippines  'and  having  a  body  the  size  of  a  small  cat  and  a 
wing  expansion  of  nearly  five  feet.  Many  species  are  supplied  with 
odoriferous  glands  which  are  chiefly  developed  in  the  male.  The 
food  varies  in  different  species;  some  are  largely  insectivorous;  others 
frugivorous;  and  several  exotic  forms  are  sanguinivorous,  but  con- 
trary to  popular  belief  the  last  are  all  comparatively  small.  The 
so-called  Vampire  Bats  belonging  to  the  genus  Vampyrus,  which  for 
many  years  were  accused  of  sucking  the  blood  of  animals,  are  now 
known  to  confine  themselves  almost  entirely  to  fruit. 


Skeleton  of  a  Bat. 

a,  Pollex;  b,  metacarpals;  c,  phalanges;  d,  radius;  e,  ulna;  f,  an tebrachial membrane ;  g,  humerus; 
h.  scapula;  i,  clavicle;  j,  femur;  k,  tibia  (fibula  rudimentary  and  not  shown);  1,  calcar;  m,  interfemoral 
membrane;  n,  tragus. 

Bats  possess  a  wonderfully  "developed  tactile  sense  enabling  them 
to  avoid  objects  in  their  flight,  which  is  not  perfectly  understood. 
It  is  supposed  to  be  located  in  the  highly  sensitive  network  of  nerves 
of  the  wing  membrane,*  as  well  as  in  the  ear  conchs,  in  the  vibrissae  of 
the  muzzle  and  in  some  species  the  cutaneous  expansions  surrounding 
the  nostrils.  Exceedingly  slight  changes  in  temperature  or  density  of 

*  The  wing  membrane  is  furnished  above  and  below  with  exceedingly  fine  and 
widely  scattered  hair,  which,  according  to  Schobl,  aid  in  transmitting  the  exalted 
sense  of  touch,  while  other  nerve  fibres  give  appreciation  of  temperature. 


448     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

the  air  might  readily  be  perceived  and  the  walls  of  caves  or  branches  of 
trees  be  thus  avoided ;  but  such  an  explanation  seems  hardly  sufficient 
to  account  for  the  ability  of  blinded  Bats  to  avoid,  without  actual 
contact,  numerous  silk  threads  stretched  across  a  room,  as  claimed  by 
Lazaro  Spallanzani,-  whose  often  quoted  experiments  are  worthy  of 
repetition  here. 

Dr.  Godman  writes:*  "In  1793  Spallanzani  put  out  the  eyes  of  a 
Bat,  and  observed  that  it  appeared  to  fly  with  as  much  ease  as  before, 
and  without  striking  against  objects  in  its  way,  following  the  curve  of 
a  ceiling,  and  avoiding  with  accuracy  everything  against  which  it  was 
expected  to  strike.  Not  only  were  blinded  Bats  capable  of  avoiding 
such  objects  as  parts  of  a  building,  but  they  shunned,  with  equal 
address,  the  most  delicate  obstacles,  even  silken  threads,  stretched 
in  such  a  manner  as  to  leave  just  space  enough  for  them  to  pass  with 
their  wings  expanded.  When  these  threads  were  placed  closer  together, 
the  Bats  contracted  their  wings,  in  order  to  pass  between  them  without 
touching.  They  also  passed  with  the  same  security  between  branches 
of  trees  placed  to  intercept  them,  and  suspended  themselves  by  the 
wall,  etc.,  with  as  much  ease  as  if  they  could  see  distinctly." 

Dr.  Joseph  Schoblf  of  Prague  repeated  Spallanzani's  experiments 
and  confirmed  his  results.  Bats  were  kept  for  a  year  alive  in  his  room, 
but  instead  of  putting  out  their  eyes  he  adopted  a  more  humane  method, 
the  desired  results  being  obtained  by  covering  them  with  adhesive 
plaster. 

The  following  account  of  similar  experiments  by  Mr.  A.  Whitaker 
of  Barnsley ,  England,  is  given  by  Millais  :| 

"He  obtained  a  Natterer's  Bat  and  covered  its  closed  eyes  with 
wax,  fastening  it  with  a  little  patch  of  rubber  and  solution,  and  then 
released  the  Bat  in  a  room  in  which  it  had  not  been  before  .... 
this  blinded  Bat  at  first  flew  in  a  hesitating  manner,  and  then  gaining 
confidence  went  straight  towards  the  closed  door.  It  stopped  when 
about  six  inches  away,  and  hovered  slowly  along  the  line  of  the  top 
and  right  down  the  side,  without  doubt  keeping  its  position  through 
its  sensitiveness  to  the  slight  draft  which  came  through  the  tiny  chink 
.  .  .  It  flew  quickly,  passing  under  chairs  of  which  there  were 
twelve  in  the  room,  besides  other  furniture,  and  never  even  touched 
anything  with  the  tips  of  its  wings.  An  attempt  to  catch  it  showed 
that,  although  incapable  of  sight,  it  was  well  able  to  dodge,  but  it 
constantly  stopped  in  its  flight,  hovered,  and  scratched  at  the  covering 

*  Amer.  Nat.  Hist.,  I,  1826,  p.  57. 

t  Amer.  Nat.,  V,  No.  3,  1871,  pp.  174-175. 

J  Mamm.  Great  Brit.  &  Ir.,  I,  1904-6,  pp.  96-97. 


FEB.,  1912.      MAMMALS  or  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.       449 

over  its  eyes.  When  a  stick  was  held  in  its  direct  path,  it  avoided  it 
when  three  or  four  inches  away.  When  it  wanted  to  rest  it  settled 
on  one  of  the  weights  of  a  gas  chandelier  in  quite  an  orthodox  manner, 
and  when  a  hand  was  stretched  out  to  capture  it,  flew  off  again  before 
it  was  touched." 

Mr.  Henry  L.  Ward  tried  similar  experiments  with  another  species 
(Nyctinomus  braziliensis)  in  Mexico.  He  says:  "With  this  species  I 
various  times  repeated  the  experiment  of  Spallanzani  made  200  years 
previous  .  .  .  my  results  were  not  equal  to  Spallanzani 's,  for 
although  my  bats  certainly  showed  remarkable  powers  of  detecting 
an  approach  to  an  object,  yet  they  occasionally  would  strike  against 
No.  1 8  wire.  However,  I  fancy  that  had  I  like  Spallanzani  used 
silk  threads,  I  should  not  have  noted  this;  but  the  wire  gave  an  audible 
record  of  each  touch,  no  matter  how  light  it  was."* 

While  most  of  our  Bats  hibernate  in  winter,  there  is  little  doubt 
that  a  number  of  our  tree-dwelling  species  migrate  to  a  more  or  less 
extent  in  fall  and  spring.  Dr.  C.  Hart  Merriam  has  apparently  proved 
this  in  regard  to  the  Hoary  Bat,  Nycteris  cinereus,  and  Silvery  Bat, 
Lasionycteris  noctivagansj  his  evidence  being  largely  based  upon  their 
occurrence  far  south  of  their  breeding  range  in  winter,  and  the  appear- 
ance of  the  latter  species  in  spring  and  fall  at  Mount  Desert  Rock, 
some  30  miles  off  the  coast  of  Maine.  Mr.  Gerrit  S.  Miller,  Jr.,  found 
Bats  common  on  Cape  Cod.,  Massachusetts,  between  August  21  and 
September  13,  but  apparently  absent  before  and  after  that  time,J 
which  would  seem  to  warrant  the  belief  that  they  were  migrating. 
The  species  observed  were  the  Red  Bat,  Nycteris  borealis,  Hoary  Bat, 
Nycteris  cinereus,  and  Silvery  Bat,  Lasionycteris  noctivagans.  Dr. 
Edgar  A.  Mearns  says  concerning  the  Red  Bat,§  "It  is  possible  that 
the  species  migrates  to  the  south  in  autumn  and  returns  in  the  spring. 
During  the  latter  part  of  October  and  the  first  week  of  November  I 
have  seen  great  flights  of  them  during  the  whole  day."  Another 
account  of  the  supposed  migration  of  Bats  is  given  by  Mr.  Arthur 
H.  Howell,^f  in  which  he  describes  seeing  Bats  flying  over  Washington, 
D.  C.,  on  the  morning  of  September  28,  1907,  a  hundred  or  more 
being  observed  between  9  and  10  o'clock.  They  were  flying  singly 
at  a  height  varying  from  150  to  400  feet  (too  far  away  to  admit  of  the 
species  being  positively  identified)  and  usually  only  four  or  five  were 
in  sight  at  one  time. 

*  Trans.  Wis.  Acad.  Sci.,  XIV,  1903  (1904),  p.  642. 

t  Trans.  Royal  Soc.  Canada,  V,  Sect.  4,  1888,  pp.  85-87. 

t  Science,  N.  S.,  V,  1897,  pp.  541-543. 

§  Bull.  Amer.  Mus.  Nat.  Hist.,  X,  1898,  p.  345. 

TI  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XXI,  1908,  pp.  35-37. 


450    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

In  England,  at  least  until  a  comparatively  recent  date,  the  com- 
mon name  for  a  Bat  was  Flitter-mouse,  and  in  Germany,  Fledermaus, 
literally  meaning  flying  or  flittering  mouse,  and  names  having  a  similar 
signification  were,  and  still  are,  in  use  in  many  parts  of  Europe.  In 
France  their  supposed  relationship  to  mice  is  shown  by  the  use  of  the 
name  Chauve-souris. 

Bats  have  always  been  more  or  less  associated  in  folklore  with 
witches  and  goblins,  and  have  been  the  cause  of  much  foolish  super- 
stition among  the  ignorant.  In  many  parts  of  Europe,  for  example, 
their  presence  in  a  house  was  supposed  to  presage  misfortune  to  the 
occupant;  on  the  other  hand,  however,  it  is  claimed  that  in  China  a 
similar  intrusion  is  construed  to  be  the  forerunner  of  unusual  good  luck, 
thus  favoring  the  Mongolian  race,  in  a  manner  which  seems  hardly 
equitable. 

The  number  of  species  belonging  to  this  order  is  very  great,  repre- 
senting at  least  173  genera  and  17  families,  widely  distributed  through- 
out the  world.  Mr.  Gerrit  S.  Miller,  Jr.,  estimates  that  the  recognized 
forms  will  eventually  exceed  2,000.* 


Suborder  MICROCHIROPTERA. 

The  members  of  this  suborder  are  nearly  all  insectivorous,  although 
a  few  are  sanguinivorous  or  frugivorous.  They  possess  tuberculate 
molars;  pollex  with  claw;  second  finger  without  claw  and  never  with 
three  phalanges,  sometimes  two  are  present,  but  usually  one  or  none; 
palate  not  extending  back  of  last  molar;  outer  and  inner  edges  of  ear 
conch  arising  from  separate  points  of  origin.  Sixteen  families  are 
now  recognized  belonging  to  this  suborder,  three  of  which  occur  in 
the  United  States,  but  only  one  so  far  as  known  is  represented  within 
our  limits. f 

*  Bull.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  No.  57,  1907,  p.  2. 

t  The  Free-tailed  Bat,  Nyctinomus  depressus,  belonging  to  the  family  Molossidce 
has  been  taken  in  eastern  Iowa. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        451 


Family  VESPERTILIONID^.      Typical 

Bats. 

This  is  by  far  the  largest  family  belonging  to  the  order.  Its  mem- 
bers are  insectivorous,  nocturnal  and  crepuscular;  and  are  characterized 
by  having  the  ears  separate,  with  a  small  anterior  basal  lobe  and 
tragi  well  developed.  The  muzzle  is  simple,  without  fleshy  appendages 
(differing  in  this  from  the  so-called  Leaf -nosed  Bats);  tail  attached 
to  interfemoral  membrane  and  extending  to  its  edge  or  slightly  beyond ; 
clavicle  present  and  well  developed;  radius  long  and  curved;  ulna 
rudimentary;  pollex  free  from  and  extending  beyond  edge  of  wing 
membrane,  ending  with  a  hooked  claw;  presternum  with  prominent 
"keel"  for  the  attachment  of  the  large  pectoral  muscles;  ribs  much 
flattened  and  occasionally  more  or  less  anchylosed  at  their  margins; 
cerebral  hemispheres  smooth;  placenta  discoidal  and  deciduate;  mam- 
mae thoracic;  testes  abdominal  or  inguinal.  The  milk  teeth  are  unlike 
the  permanent  teeth  and  are  usually  replaced  by  the  latter  at  an  un- 
usually early  period,  the  cranial  sutures  become  anchylosed  and  often 
disappear  much  earlier  in  life  than  in  most  of  our  mammals.  The 
structural  character  of  the  hair  is  peculiar.* 

Of  the  100  or  more .  North  American  species  and  subspecies,  nine 
species  belonging  to  6  genera  are  known  to  occur  within  our  limits,  and 
it  is  probable  that  another  genus  and  species  (Corynorhinus  macrotis) 
and  possibly  a  representative  of  another  family  (Nyctinomus  depressus) 
may  ultimately  be  added  to  the  list. 


\  \     \ 


KEY  TO   THE   GENERA. 

GROUP  1.  Upper  incisors  (front  teeth  between  canines)  2. 
Upper  surface  of  interfemoral  membrane   (membrane 
connecting  tail  with  legs)  completely  furred;  whole 
number  of  teeth  32.          Genus  NYCTERIS,  p.  470. 
Upper  surface  of  interfemoral  membrane  entirely  bare 
or  furred  slightly  at  extreme  base;  whole  number 
Front  view,  showing  up-  of  teeth  30.  Genus  NYCTICEIUS,  p.  475. 

per  incisors  and   canines 
much  enlarged. 

*  For  remarks  concerning  the  structural  variation  in  the  hair  of  Bats,  see  page446. 


452     FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 


Red  Bat  (Nycteris  borealis).  Hoary  Bat  (Nycteris  cinereus). 

Silvery  Ba.t(Lasionycteris  noctivagans) . 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        453 


Front  view,  showing 
upper  incisors  and  ca- 
nines much  enlarged. 


GROUP  2.  Upper  incisors  (front  teeth  between  canines)  4. 
SECTION  1.  Upper  surface  of  interfemoral  membrane 

furred  from  y$  to  ]4  its  length,  the  rest  bare. 
Color  sooty,  frosted  with  white;    whole  number  of 
teeth  36.       Genus  LASIONYCTERIS,  p.  462. 
Color  yellowish  brown;  whole  number  of  teeth  34. 

Genus  PIPISTRELLUS,  p.  465. 


SECTION  2.  Upper  surface  of  interfemoral  membrane  entirely  bare,  or  furred 

slightly  at  extreme  base. 

Ears  less  than  .75  inch  long;  fur  of  back,  when  rubbed,  showing  decidedly 
darker  at  base;  teeth  in  upper  jaws  14;  whole  number  of  teeth  32. 

Genus  EPTESICUS,  p.  467. 

Ears  less  than  .75  inch  long;  fur  of  back,  when  rubbed,  not  showing  decidedly 
darker  at  base;  teeth  in  upper  jaw  18;  whole  number  of  teeth  38. 

Genus  MYOTIS,  p.  455. 

Ears  more  than  .75  inch  long;  teeth  in  upper  jaw  16;  whole  number  of  teeth 
36.  Genus  CORYNORHINUS,  p.  476. 


Interfemoral  membrane. 


KEY  TO   SPECIES 
KNOWN   TO   OCCUR  WITHIN   OUR  LIMITS. 

GROUP  1.  Upper  surface  of  interfemoral  membrane  (membrane  connecting  tail 

with  legs)  completely  covered  with  fur. 
Color  of  body  hoary  (brown  mixed  with  grayish  white); 
length    about    5    inches;    upper  front  teeth   (incisors) 
between  canines  2.  HOARY  BAT. 

Nycteris  cinereus,  p.  472. 

Color  of  body  on  upper  parts  reddish  brown  or  yellowish 
red  brown;  length  about  4  to  4.25  inches;  upper  front 
teeth  (incisors)  between  canines  2.  RED  BAT. 

Nycteris  borealis,  p.  470. 

GROUP  2.  Upper  surface  of  interfemoral  membrane  (membrane  connecting  tail 

with  legs)  not  completely  covered  with  fur. 
SECTION  1.  Upper  surface  of  interfemoral  membrane 

furred  from  %  to  %  its  length,  the  rest  bare. 
Color  of  body  sooty  brown  or  blackish,  frosted  with 
grayish    white;    length    about    4    inches;    whole 
number  of  teeth  36.  SILVERY  BAT. 

Lasionycteris  noctivagans,  p.  462. 
Color  yellowish  brown;  length  about  3.40  inches; 
whole  number  of  teeth  34.  ,          GEORGIAN  BAT. 
Pipistrellus  subflavus,  p.  465. 


Interfemoral  membrane. 


454     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

SECTION  2.  Upper  surface  of  interfemoral  membrane  entirely  bare,  or  furred 
slightly  at  extreme  base;  total  length  (nose  to  tip 
of  tail)  4  or  more  inches. 
PART  1.  Ears  less  than  .75  inch  long. 

Color  of  body  brown  (generally  slightly  yellowish 
brown),  paler  below;  ears  less  than  .75  inch 
long;  fur  of  back,  when  rubbed,  showing  de- 
cidedly darker  brown  at  base;  tip  of  tail  ex- 
tending slightly  beyond  the  interfemoral  mem- 
brane; number  of  teeth  in  upper  jaw  14;  whole 

Interfemoral  membrane.  number  of  teeth  32.  BROWN  BAT. 

Eptesicus  fuscus,  p.  467. 

Color  of  body  brown,  paler  below;  ears  less  than  .75  inch  long;  fur  of 
back,  when  -rubbed,  not  showing  decided  darker  brown  at  base; 
number  of  teeth  in  upper  jaw  18;  whole  number  of  teeth  38. 

GRAY  BAT.     Myotis  grisescens,  p.  459. 
PART  2.  Ears  more  than  .75  inch  long. 

Ears  very  large,  about  one  inch  or  more  in  length.  The  extraordinary 
size  of  the  ears  will  distinguish  this  species.  Not  as  yet  recorded  from 
within  our  limits,  but  may  occur  in  southeastern  Illinois. 

BIG-EARED  BAT.     Corynorhinus  macrotis,  p.  476. 

SECTION  3.  Upper  surface  of  interfemoral  membrane  entirely  bare,  or  furred 
slightly  at  extreme  base;  total  length  (nose  to  tip  of  tail)  less  than  4 
inches. 
PART  1.  Upper  incisors  (front  teeth  between  canines)  2. 

Tail  extending  slightly  beyond  the  interfemoral  membrane;  color  dull 
umber  brown  above,  paler  below;  fur  decidedly  darker  at  base;  whole 
number  of  teeth  30.  RAFINESQUE  BAT. 

Nycticeius  humeralis,  p.  475. 
PART  2.  Upper  incisors  (front  teeth  between  canines)  4;   total  length  3.75 

inches  or  more. 

Color  of  body  brown,  paler  below;  length  of  forearm  1.60  inches  (40  mm.) 
or  more.  GRAY  BAT.  Myotis  grisescens,  p.  459. 

PART  3.  Upper  incisors  (front  teeth  between  canines)  4;   total    length  less 

than  3.75  inches. 

Color  brown,  the  fur  much  darker  at  base;  ear  when  laid  forward  extend- 
ing well  beyond  end  of  nose;  tragus  slender.  SAY'S  BAT. 

Myotis  subulatus,  p.  460. 

Color  brown,  the  fur  much  darker  at  base;  ear  when  laid  forward  not 
extending  beyond  end  of  nose;  tragus  rather  short  and  broad. 

LITTLE  BROWN  BAT.     Myotis  lucifugus,  p.  455. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.       455 


Subfamily  VESPERTILIONIN^. 
Genus  MYOTIS  Kaup. 

Myotis   Kaup,    Skizzirte    Entw.-Gesch.   u.  Naturl.  Syst.  der  Europ. 

Thierw.,  I,  1829,  p.  106.     Type  Vespertilio  myotis  Bechstein. 

Form  rather  slender;  upper  incisors  4;  no  fur  on  interfemoral  mem- 
brane except  at  the  extreme  base.  The  dental  formula  will  readily 
distinguish  this  genus  from  other  North  American  genera  belonging 
to  this  family. 

2  —  2  I  —  I  3  —  3  "*  —  ' 

Dental  formula:  I. >  C. >  Pm.  -  —  > 


3-3         i-i  3-3         3-3 

Myotis  lucifugus  (LECONTE). 
LITTLE  BROWN  BAT. 

V[espertilio]  lucifugus  LECONTE,  McMurtrie's  Cuvier  Animal  Kingd.,  I,  Appendix, 

1831,  p.  431. 
Vespertilio  gryphus  lucifugus  H.  ALLEN,  Bull.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  No.  43,  1893,  p.  80 

(Cook  Co.  and  Cairo,  Illinois;  Wisconsin;  Isle  Royale,  Michigan). 
Vespertilio  lucifugus  STRONG,  Geol.  Wis.,  Surv.  1873-79,  I.  1883,  p.  438  (Wisconsin). 

RHOADS,  Journ.  Cin.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  XIX,   1897,  p.  59   (Mammoth  Cave, 

Kentucky).     Ib.,  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  1896  (1897),  p.  203  (Tennessee). 
Vespertilio  gryphus  EVERMANN  &  BUTLER,  Proc.  Ind.  Acad.  Sci.,  1893  (1894),  p.  134 

(Indiana). 
Myotis  lucifugus  MILLER,  N.  Amer.  Fauna,  No.  13,  1897,  p.  62  (Illinois,  Kentucky, 

Minnesota,  Ontario,  etc.).     SNYDER,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  II,  1902,  p.  126 

(Wisconsin).     JACKSON,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  VI,  1908,  p.  32  (Wisconsin). 

Ib.,  VIII,  1910,  p.  90  (Wisconsin).     HAHN,  Ann.  Kept.  Dept.  Geol.  &  Nat. 

Resources  Ind.,   1908   (1909),  p.  621   (Indiana).     ADAMS,  Rept.  State  Board 

Geol.  Surv.  Mich.,  1908  (1909)  p.  390  (Isle  Royale,  Michigan).     WOOD,  Bull. 

111.  State  Lab.  Nat.  Hist.,  VIII,  1910,  p.  594  (Illinois). 

Type  locality  —  Georgia. 

Distribution  —  Practically  the  whole  of  North  America  north  of  Mexico, 
except  in  the  southwestern  portion  and  on  the  Pacific  coast ;  its  north- 
ern range  extends  to  Labrador,  the  Hudson  Bay  region  and  Alaska. 

Description  —  General  color  dull  brown  (variable  in  shade) ;  under 
parts  paler,  often  tinged  with  yellowish,  sometimes  with  gray; 
tragus  bent  slightly  forward  and  not  sharp-pointed;  ear  when  laid 
forward  not  extending  beyond  end  of  nose. 

Measurements  —  Total  length,  about  3.60  in.  (91  mm.);  tail,  1.45  in. 
(37  mm.);  hind  foot,  .40  in.  (10  mm.);  spread  of  wings  (expanse), 
about  9  in. 


456     FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

Remarks  —  This  species  resembles  M.  subulatus,  but  differs  in  having 

a  more  rounded  and  less  sharp-pointed  tragus  and  shorter  ears. 

In  M.  subulatus  the  ears  when  laid  forward  extend  considerably 

beyond  the  end  of  the  nose. 

The  known  range  of  this  species  includes  the  whole  of  Illinois  and 
Wisconsin.  I  have  examined  specimens  from  Hardin  and  Pope  coun- 
ties, Illinois;  Miller  records  it  from  Warsaw  and  West  Northfield 
(1.  c.,  p.  62);  and  H.  Allen,  from  Cook  and  Alexander  counties  (/.  c., 
p.  80). 

Specimens  from  Wisconsin  are  reported  by  Jackson  from  Dodge, 
Jefferson,  Milwaukee,  Rock  and  Waukesha  counties  (I.  c.,  1908,  p.  32), 
and  he  states  the  species  is  very  abundant  at  Cassville,  Grand  Go., 
and  along  the  Mississippi  River  (7.  c.,  1910,  p.  90);  I  have  examined 
specimens  from  Dodge,  Burnett,  Polk,  Rush  and  Pierce  counties;  and 
Dr.  H.  V.  Ogden's  collection  contains  specimens  from  Iron,  Milwaukee, 
and  Waukesha  counties. 

The  Little  Brown  Bat  is  a  natural  cave  dweller  and  is  often  found 
in  great  numbers  in  such  places,  especially  in  winter;  but  during  its 
wanderings  in  summer  it  takes  up  its  abode  in  almost  any  place  which 
offers  concealment,  such  as  in  a  hollow  tree,  behind  a  window  blind, 
or  in  a  garret  or  outbuilding.  I  once  found  a  dozen  or  more  com- 
fortably reposing  behind  a  window  blind  which  had  remained  closed 
for  some  time.  Mr.  W.  E.  Snyder  states  that  in  September,  1901, 
in  Beaver  Dam,  Wisconsin,  he  found  60  Bats  of  this  species  in  a  gran- 
ary, to  which  they  had  gained  access  through  a  broken  window  pane. 
They  remained  there  three  nights  only,  after  which  they  were  seen  no 
more  {/.  c.,  p.  126).  Hahn  states  that  in  winter  this  species  is  found 
in,  enormous  numbers  in  Wyandotte  and  other  caves  in  southern 
Indiana  (/.  c.,  p.  622),  and  they  are  known  to  frequent  caves  near 
Rosiclaire  and  elsewhere  in  southern  Illinois. 

In  describing  the  habits  of  this  species  Stone  and  Cram  say:  "Most 
northern  bats  become  thoroughly  dormant  in  cold  weather,  and  it  has 
been  stated,  on  good  authority,  that  their  daily  sleep  is,  in  reality, 
hibernation,  differing  from  the  sleep  of  other  warm-blooded  animals 
in  the  same  manner  that  their  winter  hibernation  does.  But  this 
probably  only  refers  to  certain  species.  The  little  brown  bats  that 
spend  the  days  behind  my  blinds  apparently  only  sleep  in  the  ordinary 
way,  as  they  frequently  get  to  crowding  and  nudge  and  poke  each  other 
with  their  sharp  bony  elbows,  becoming  half  awake  and  squeaking 
peevishly  as  they  endeavor  to  arrange  themselves  more  comfortably 
for  the  remainder  of  their  nap.  But  this  activity  may  be  due  to  the 
increased  irritability  of  the  muscular  fibre,  which  is  said  to  be  an  in- 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        457 

variable  accompaniment  of  hibernation.  When  I  threw  open  the 
blind  last  October,  exposing  them  to  the  full  glare  of  the  afternoon 
sunlight,  they  maintained  the  same  position  and  showed  little  sign  of 
awakening,  but  half  an  hour  later  had  disappeared,  though  the  sun 
was  still  several  hours  high.  This  year  the  blinds  were  left  open  for 
the  first  part  of  the  summer,  and  the  bats  were  obliged  to  look  up  new 
sleeping  quarters.  In  July  I  closed  the  blinds,  hoping  to  entice  the 
bats  back  to  their  former  apartments;  and,  sure  enough,  about  the  first 
of  the  month  I  was  delighted  to  see  a  solitary  individual  hanging  by 
his  toes  on  one  corner  of  the  window,  fast  asleep.  Wishing  to  have  him 
pose  as  model  for  an  illustration,  I  unceremoniously  routed  him  out 
and  deposited  him  on  my  desk,  where  he  spent  a  most  unhappy  morn- 
ing, losing  all  patience  with  me  before  the  portrait  was  half  com- 
pleted,—  which  was  hardly  to  be  wondered  at,  considering  the  cir- 
cumstances. As  often  as  I  tried  to  get  him  to  change  his  position, 
he  would  break  forth  into  shrill  stuttering  protests  and  snap  viciously 
at  everything  within  reach;  but  he  soon  quieted  down  on  being  left 
alone,  and  slept  complacently  close  to  my  hand  while  I  sketched  him. 
Several  times  he  escaped  and  flew  deliberately  downstairs,  which  I 
think  few  birds  would  have  the  intelligence  and  coolness  to  do.  All 
those  that  I  have  seen  in  similar  circumstances  fluttered  helplessly 
against  the  glass  or  ceiling  and  absolutely  refused  to  fly  downward 
under  any  provocation;  but  my  bat  flew  up  or  down  with  equal  will- 
ingness, and  from  room  to  room,  earnestly  searching  for  a  passage 
to  the  open  air.  Whenever'  he  felt  tired  he  would  hang  himself  up 
in  a  fold  of  a  curtain  to  rest,  apparently  being  fast  asleep  as  soon  as 
he  was  fairly  settled.  Glass  he  soon  learned  to  avoid  as  slippery  and 
treacherous;  but  the  mosquito  screens  furnished  better  foothold,  and 
the  way  he  would  scuttle  about  over  these  was  something  marvelous. 
Finally  I  carried  him  outdoors  and  gave  him  his  freedom,  and,  in 
spite  of  the  sun,  he  seemed  to  find  no  difficulty  in  seeing,  but  started 
directly  for  the  barn  window,  which  was  partly  open,  and  entered  it 
as  the  swallows  did.  No  one  seeing  him  at  the  time  could  reasonably 
have  accused  him  of  blindness;  nor  did  the  term  'blind  as  a  bat' 
seem  applicable  when  you  caught  the  gleam  and  sparkle  of  his  wicked 
little  eyes,  peering  out  from  beneath  his  woolly  eyebrows.  He  evi- 
dently decided  that  he  had  chosen  an  unsafe  sleeping  place,  and  for 
a  little  while  the  place  was  deserted;  but  in  a  few  days  I  noticed  a 
smaller  specimen  of  his  race  in  the  opposite  corner,  and  the  day  fol- 
lowing there  were  nine  of  varying  size  ranged  along  the  upper  sash 
in  their  usual  characteristic  attitudes.  One  near  the  middle  of  the 
row  was  wide  awake;  washing  himself  after  the  manner  of  a  cat,  he 


458    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 

would  lick  his  foot  or  a  portion  of  his  wing  and  rub  his  head  with  it 
the  wrong  way  of  the  fur,  and  scratch  himself  rapidly  behind  the  ear 
with  one  of  his  little  thumb  nails  at  the  bend  of  his  wing,  the  long 
bone  of  his  fore-arm  beating  a  tattoo  on  the  glass  beside  him  as  he 
did  so.  The  elasticity  of  the  wing  membrane  is  truly  astonishing; 
he  would  seize  an  edge  of  it  in  his  mouth  and  stretch  it  into  all  kinds  of 
grotesque  shapes  in  his  endeavor  to  get  it  clean  enough  to  suit  his  fancy, 
and  sometimes,  when  at  work  on  the  inside,  he  would  wrap  his  head 
up  in  it  entirely,  the  thin  rubbery  stuff  conforming  to  the  general 
outline  of  his  skull  in  the  most  startling  manner."* 

On  alighting  a  Bat  attaches  itself  to  the  object  by  its  wing  hooks 
(pollex)  and  hind  feet,  with  its  head  up.     If  it  intends  to  rest  for  any 


Map  showing  range  of  the  Little  Brown  Bat,  (Myotis  lucifugus)in  eastern  United  States  and  southern 
Canada;  its  northern  range  extends  to  Labrador,  the  Hudson  Bay  region  and  Alaska. 

*  American  Animals,  1902,  pp.  197-199. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.       459 

length  of  time,  it  turns  head  downward  and  hangs  by  the  hooked 
nails  of  its  hind  feet.  Its  food,  so  far  as  known,  consists  entirely  of 
insects. 

Specimens  examined  from  Illinois,  Wisconsin  and  adjoining  states: 
Illinois  —  Rosiclaire,  Hardin  Co.,  7;  Golconda,  Pope  Co.,  3=  10. 
Indiana  —  Wyandotte,  14. 
Wisconsin  —  Beaver  Dam,  Dodge  Co.,  2;  (M.  P.  M.)  Burnett  Co.,  i; 

Fountain  City,  Buffalo  Co.,  25;  Osceola,  Polk  Co.,  i;  Maiden  Rock, 

Pierce  Co.,  u;  Milwaukee,  2;  (O.  C.)  Iron  Co.,  i;  Milwaukee  2; 

Delafield,  Waukesha  Co.,  1  =  46. 

Myotis  grisescens  HOWELL. 
GRAY  BAT. 

Myotis  grisescens  HOWELL,  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XXII,   1909,  p.  46.     HAHN, 

Ann.  Kept.  Dept.  Geol.  &  Nat.  Resources  Ind.,  1908  (1909),  p.  625  (Indiana). 

HOWELL,  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XXII,   1909,  p.  67   (Tennessee,  Missouri, 

Indiana). 
Myotis  velifer  MILLER,  N.  Amer.  Fauna,  No.  13,  1897,  p.  56  (in  part  specimens 

from  Marble  Cave,  Missouri).     HAHN,  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  XXXV,  1908 

(1909),  p.  580  (Monroe  Co.,  Indiana). 

Type  locality  —  Nickajack  Cave,  near  Shellmound,  Marion  Co.,  Ten- 
nessee. 

Distribution  —  Limits  of  range  unknown.  It  has  been  taken  in  Ten- 
nessee, Indiana,  Illinois  and  Missouri,  and  will  probably  be  found 
ultimately  in  many  of  our  Southern  states. 

Description  —  General  color  dull  brown  to  mouse-gray,  somewhat 
paler  and  more  grayish  below,  flanks  and  lower 
portion  of  abdomen  showing  a  slight  buffy  tinge  in 
some  specimens;  whole  number  of  teeth  in  upper 
jaw  18;  tragus  long  and  rather  slender,  similar  to 
that  of  velifer. 

Measurements  —  Total  length,  about  4.12  in.  (97  to 
1 10  mm.);  tail,  1.65  in.  (42mm.);  foot,  .50  in.  (10.5 
mm.) ;  forearm,  1.60  in.  (40  mm.)  or  more;  extent  (spread  of  wings), 
about  ii  in.  (280  mm.). 

Remarks  —  Differs  from  M.  velifer  in  averaging  darker  in  color  and 
having  the  wing  membrane  attached  to  the  feet  near  the  ankle 
joint  and  not  at  the  base  of  the  toes  as  in  velifer. 

Very  little  is  known  concerning  the  range  of  this  species,  but  it  has 
so  far  been  taken  in  Illinois,  Tennessee,  Missouri  and  Indiana.  Mr. 
Howell  described  it  as  a  new  form  in  1909,  and  specimens  which  have 


460    FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

been  taken  in  Indiana  and  Missouri  prior  to  that  date  were  supposed 
to  be  M.  velifer.  It  is  common  in  the  caves  near  Rosiclaire,  Hardin 
Co.,  Illinois,  and  it  will  probably  be  found  to  occur  in  other  suitable 
localities  in  at  least  the  southern  portion  of  the  state. 

Specimens  examined  from  Illinois: 
Illinois  —  Rosiclaire,  Hardin  Co.,  36  (27  in  alcohol). 


Map  showing  known  range  of  the  Gray  Bat  (Myotis  grisescens).    It  is  probable  that  it  occurs  in 
several  of  our  Southern  states. 

Myotis  subulatus  (SAY). 
SAY'S  BAT. 

V[espertilio]  subulatus  SAY,  Long's  Exped.  Rocky  Mts.,  II,  1823,  p.  65  (foot  note) 
Myotis  subulatus  MILLER,  N.  Amer.  Fauna,  No.  13,  1897,  p.  76  (Illinois,  Indiana 
Wisconsin,  Kentucky,  Missouri,  etc.).  HAHN,  Ann.  Rept.  Dept.  Geol.  &  Nat 
Resources  Ind.,  1908  (1909),  p.  623  (Indiana).  ADAMS,  Rept.  State  Board 
Geol.  Surv.  Mich.,  1908  (1909)  (Isle  Royale,  Michigan).  N.  A.  WOOD,  I3th 
Rept.  Mich.  Acad.  Sci.,  1911,  p.  134  (Charity  Islands,  Saginaw  Bay,  Michigan). 
Vespertilio  subulatus  LAPHAM,  Trans.  Wis.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  II,  1852  (1853),  p.  337 
(Wisconsin).  MILES,  Rept.  Geol.  Surv.  Mich.,  I,  1860  (1861),  p.  219  (Michi- 
gan). ALLEN,  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  XIII,  1869  (1871),  p.  187  (Iowa). 
STRONG,  Geol.  Wis.,  Surv.  1873-79,  I.  1883,  p.  438  (Wisconsin).  HERRICK, 
Geol.  &  Nat.  Hist.  Surv.  Minn.,  Bull.  No.  7,  1892,  p.  36  (Minnesota).  MILLER, 
Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  XXVIII,  1897,  p.  39  (Ontario). 


FEB.,  1912.    MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.       461 


Type  locality  —  Arkansas  River  near  La  Junta,  Colorado. 
Distribution  —  North  America,  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Rocky  Mount- 
ains, north  to  northern  Quebec  and  Manitoba  and  south  to  Georgia. 
Description  —  Size  small;  color  similar  to  M.  lucifugus;  general  color 
dull  brown   (variable  in  shade),  under  parts  paler; 
fur  often  tipped  with  pale  cinnamon  brown  or  brown- 
ish   buff;    ears    when    laid  forward    extending    clearly 
beyond  end  of  nose;  tragus  slender,  bent  slightly  back- 
ward or  straight. 
Measurements  —  Total  length,  about  3.40  in.   (80  to  90  mm.);  tail, 

1.45  in.  (37  mm.);  foot,  .32  in.  (8  mm.). 

Remarks  —  This  species  resembles  M.  lucifugus,  but  may  be  distin- 
guished by  its  longer  ears  and  more  pointed  tragus. 
The  range  of  this  species  includes  the  whole  of  Illinois  and  Wisconsin, 
but  so  far  as  known  the  only  actual  records  for  either  state  are  given 
by  Miller;  one  from  Chicago,  Illinois,  and  the  other  from  Bayfield, 
Wisconsin.     It  is  probably  not  uncommon,  but  has  been  overlooked 
on  account  of  its  general  resemblance  to  M.  lucifugus.     The  species 
is  included  in  lists  of  Wisconsin  mammals  by  both  Lapham  and  Strong, 


Map  illustrating  supposed  range  of  Say's  Bat  (Myotis  subulatus)  in  North  America. 


462     FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 

but  no  definite  localities  are  given.  Hahn  states  that  it  occurs  through- 
out Indiana;  Adams  records  it  from  Michigan;  Herrick  from  Minne- 
sota; and  Allen  from  Iowa. 

So  far  as  known,  its  habits  are  similar  to  those  of  the  Little  Brown 
Bat,  which  it  closely  resembles. 


Genus  LASIONYCTERIS  Peters.  . 

Lasionycteris  Peters,  Monatsb.  K.  Preuss.  Acad.  Wiss.  Berlin,   1865 
(1866),  p.  648.     Type  Vespertilio  noctivagans  LeConte. 
Skull  somewhat  flattened;  rostrum  broad;  ears  short  and  broad; 

tragus    straight    and    blunt    (not    pointed);    interfemoral    membrane 

furred  on  upper  surface  for  about  half  its  length. 

Dental  formula:  I.  -  ,  C.-  —  -»  Pm.  —  -,  M.^-^=36. 
3-3         i-i  3-3          3-3 

This  genus  is  peculiar  to  North  America  and,  so  far  as  known,  is 
represented  by  a  single  species.  , 


Lasionycteris  noctivagans  (LECONTE). 
SILVER-HAIRED  BAT.     SILVERY  BAT. 

V[espertilio]  noctivagans  LECONTE,  McMurtrie's  Cuvier  Animal  Kingd.,  I,  1831,  p. 

43i- 

Vespertilio  noctivagans  LAPHAM,  Trans.  Wis.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  1852  (1853),  p.  337 
(Wisconsin). 

Vespertillio  noctivagans  KENNICOTT,  Trans.  111.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  I,  1853-54  (^SS), 
p.  578  (Cook  Co.,  Illinois). 

Scotophilus  noctivagans  ALLEN,  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  XIII,  1869  (1871), 
p.  187  (Iowa).  STRONG,  Geol.  Wis.,  Surv  .1873-79,  I.  1883,  p.  437  (Wisconsin). 

Lasionycteris  noctivagans  H.  ALLEN,  Bull.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  No.  43,  1893,  p.  105 
(Illinois).  HERRICK,  Geol.  &  Nat.  Hist.  Surv.  Minn.,  Bull.  No.  7,  1892,  p.  34 
(Minnesota).  EVERMANN  &  BUTLER,  Proc.  Ind.  Acad.  Sci.,  1893  (1894), 
p.  134  (Indiana).  RHOADS,  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  1896  (1897),  p.  205 
(Tennessee).  MILLER,  N.  Amer.  Fauna,  No.  13,  1897,  p.  86.  SNYDER,  Bull. 
Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  II,  1902,  p.  126  (Wisconsin).  JACKSON,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat. 
Hist.  Soc.,  VI,  1908,  p.  32  (Wisconsin).  HAHN,  Ann.  Rept.  Dept.  Geol.  & 
Nat.  Resources  Ind.,  1908  (1909),  p.  627  (Indiana).  WOOD,  Bull.  111.  State 
Lab.  Nat.  Hist.,  VIII,  1910,  p.  574  (Illinois).  N.  A.  WOOD,  I3th  Rept.  Mich. 
Acad.  Sci.,  1911,  p.  134  (Charity  Islands,  Saginaw  Bay,  Michigan).  Ib.,  Mich. 
Geol.  &  Biol.  Surv.,  Pub.  IV,  1911,  p.  312  (Michigan). 

Type  locality  —  Eastern  United  States. 

Distribution  —  Greater  portion  of  North  America,  from  the  Atlantic 
to  the  Pacific,  north  to  Quebec,  the  Hudson  Bay  region  and  south- 
ern Alaska;  south  to  California,  Colorado,  Tennessee  and  Georgia. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.       463 

Description  —  Ears  short  and  broad;  general  color  sooty  brown;  the 
back,  more  or  less  of  the  under  parts  and  the 
furred    portion    of    the    interfemoral    membrane 
frosted  with  ashy  white,  the  white  frosting  most 
pronounced  on  the  back;  interfemoral  membrane 
furred  for  about  half  its  length,  the  rest  bare; 
teeth   36;  four  front  teeth  between  canines   in 
upper  jaw;  tragus  short  and  bluntly  rounded  at  the  tip. 
Measurements  —  Total  length,  about  4  in.  (101.6  mm.);  tail,  1.62  in. 
(41  mm.);  foot  .33  in.  (8  mm.). 

This  species  ranges  throughout  Illinois  and  Wisconsin  and  is  com- 
mon about  Chicago.  I  have  examined  specimens  from  Chicago  and 
other  localities  in  Cook  and  Du  Page  counties;  it  has  been  reported 
from  the  Illinois  River  and  St.  Louis,  Mo.  (H.  Allen,  /.  c.,  p.  in); 
Wood  states  it  is  common  in  Champaign  County  (/.  c.,  p.  595). 

Wisconsin  specimens  have  been  examined  from  Milwaukee,  Wai- 
worth,  Burnett,  Polk  and  Dodge  counties;  Snyder  reports  it  abundant 
at  Beaver  Dam,  Dodge  Co.  (I.  c.,  p.  126);  and  Jackson  gives  it  as  very 
common  in  most  localities  in  the  southern  part  of  the  state  (I.  c., 

P-  33)- 

The  Silver-haired  Bat  is  found  practically  throughout  the  United 
States  and  is  enormously  abundant  in  some  localities.  Harrison 
Allen  states  that  an  old  house  at  Seneca  Point,  near  Charlestown, 
Cecil  Co.,  Md.,  was  inhabited  by  more  than  10,000  Bats  supposed  to  be 
mostly  this  species,  9,640  of  which  were  killed  by  actual  count.* 

In  describing  their  habits  Dr.  C.  Hart  Merriam  says:  "Like  many 
other  bats,  it  has  a  decided  liking  for  water  ways,  coursing  up  and 
down  streams  and  rivers,  and  circling  around  lakes  and  ponds.  In 
some  places  its  habit  of  keeping  directly  over  the  water  is  very  marked. 
At  Lyon's  Falls  it  is  exceedingly  abundant,  particularly  just  below  the 
falls.  I  have  stood,  gun  in  hand,  on  a  point  on  the  east  bank  of  the 
river,  and  have  seen  hundreds  passing  and  repassing,  flying  over  the 
water,  while  during  the  entire  evening  not  more  than  two  or  three 
strayed  so  far  that  if  shot  they  would  fall  on  the  land.  Several  that 
were  wounded  and  fell  into  the  water,  at  a  distance  of  fifteen  or  twenty 
feet  from  the  bank,  swam  ashore.  They  swam  powerfully  and  swiftly, 
for  the  current  is  here  quite  strong  and  would  otherwise  have  carried 
them  some  distance  down  stream. 

"Next  to  water  courses,  the  borders  of  hard-wood  groves  are  the 
favorite  haunts  of  the  Silver-haired  Bat.  By  standing  close  under 
the  edge  of  the  trees  one  sees  many  that  at  a  little  distance  would  pass 

*  Monograph  Bats  N.  Amer.,  1864,  p.  xvii. 


464    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

unobserved.  While  searching  for  their  insect  prey  they  may  be  seen 
to  dart  in  and  out  among  the  branches  and  to  penetrate,  in  various 
directions,  the  dense  mat  of  foliage  overhead.  They  often  pass  within 
a  few  inches  of  one's  face,  and  yet  it  is  rare  that  a  sound  is  heard  from 
their  delicate  wings."* 

The  nest  is  commonly  in  a  hollow  tree  and,  according  to  Merriam, 
the  young  are  generally  two  in  number  and  are  born  about  the  first 
of  July.  They  commence  to  fly  when  about  three  weeks  old  (/.  c., 
p.  190). 

Specimens  examined  from  Illinois  and  Wisconsin: 
Illinois  —  Glen  Ellyn,  Du  Page  Co.,  i;  Chicago,  7;  Palos  Park,  Cook 

Co.,  1  =  9. 
Wisconsin — (M.  P.  M.)  Milwaukee,  9;  Delavan,  Walworth  Co.,   i; 

Burnett  Co.,  i;  Osceola,  Polk  Co.,  4=15. 


Map  illustrating  approximate  range  of  the  Silver-haired  Bat  (Lasionycteris  noctivagans)  in 
eastern  North  America. 

*  Mamm.  Adirondack  Reg.,  1886,  p.  188. 


FEB.,  1912.    MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.       465 

Genus  PIPISTRELLUS  Kaup. 

Pipistrellus  Kaup,  Skizzirte  Entwick-Gesch.  u.  Naturl.  Syst.  d.  Europ. 

Thierw.,  I,  1829,  p.  98.     Type  Vespertilio  pipistrellus  Schreber. 

Ears  tapering;  tragus  nearly  straight;  about  one-third  of  inter- 
femoral  membrane  sparsely  furred,  the  terminal  two-thirds  bare; 
mammae,  2. 

Dental  formula:  I.  —  ,  C.—  ,  Pm. 
~  - 


2-2         3~3 
A  single  species  belonging  to  this  genus  occurs  within  our  limits. 

Pipistrellus  subflavus  (F.  CUVIER). 
GEORGIAN  BAT. 

V[espertilio]  subflavus  F.  CUVIER,  Nouv.  Ann.  Mus.  d'Hist.  Nat.  Paris,  I,  1832,  p.  17. 

Vesperugo  georgianus  TRUE,  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  VII,  1884  (1885),  p.  602. 

Vesperugo  carolinensis  EVERMANN  &  BUTLER,  Proc.  Ind.  Acad.  Sci.,  1893  (1894), 
p.  135  (Indiana).  H.  ALLEN,  Bull.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  No.  43,  1893,  p.  121  (not 
Vespertilio  carolinensis  Geoff.)  (Cairo,  Illinois).  RHOADS,  Journ.  Cincin.  Soc. 
Nat.  Hist.,  1897,  p.  60  (Kentucky). 

Pipistrellus  subflavus  MILLER,  N.  Amer.  Fauna,  No.  13,  1897,  p.  92  (Missouri, 
Tennessee,  etc.).  HAHN,  Ann.  Rept.  Dept.  Geol.  &  Nat.  Resources  Ind., 
1908  (1909),  p.  629  (Indiana).  HOWELL,  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XXII,  1909, 
p.  67  (Tennessee).  Ib.,  XXIII,  1910,  p.  33  (Missouri,  Illinois,  Kentucky).  WOOD, 
Bull.  111.  State  Lab.  Nat.  Hist.,  VIII,  1910,  p.  595  (Illinois).  HOLLISTER, 
Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  VIII,  1910,  p.  31. 

Scotophilus  georgianus  STRONG,  Geol.  Wis.,  Surv.  1873-79,  I.  I883,  p.  438  (Wis- 
consin). 

Type  locality  —  Eastern  United  States  —  Supposed  to  be  Georgia. 
Distribution  —  Eastern  United  States,  from  southern  New  York  and 
Illinois  south  to  the  Gulf  states  and  west  to  Missouri  and  eastern 
Texas. 

Description  —  Size  small  ;  basal  third  of  interfemoral 
membrane  sparsely  covered  with  fur,  the  terminal 
two-thirds   bare;    general   color    yellowish   brown 
(more  or  less  variable),  paler  on  under  parts;  tragus 
long,  narrow  and  tapering. 
Measurements  —  Total  length,  about  3.35  in.  (85  mm.);  tail,  1.58  in. 
(40  mm.);  foot,  .30  in.  (7.5  mm.). 

This  species  is  common  in  southern  Illinois  and  probably  occurs 
throughout  the  greater  portion  of  the  state,  although  thus  far  it  has 
not  been  recorded  from  the  northern  part.  The  Field  Museum  col- 


466     FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 

lection  contains  a  number  of  specimens  from  Hardin,  Alexander,  Pope, 
and  Johnson  counties,  and  I  have  seen  a  specimen  from  Coles  County; 
Howell  records  it  from  Alexander,  Union,  Richland  and  Johnson 
counties  (1.  c.,  1910,  p.  33);  Wood  says  there  are  sixty-nine  Bats  of  this 
species  in  the  collection  of  the  Illinois  State  Laboratory  of  Natural 
History  at  Urbana,  Champaign  Co.,  but  all  are  without  locality  data 
(/.  c.,  p.  596). 

Strong  includes  this  species  in  his  list  of  Wisconsin  mammals  (I.  c., 
p.  438),  but  merely  gives  the  name  without  information  as  to  locality 
or  date  of  capture,  a  most  unsatisfactory  way  to  treat  the  first  record 
for  a  state.  Hollister  questions  this  record  and  says  the  species  is  not 


Map  showing  the  probable  range  of  the  Georgian  Bat  (Pipistrellus  subflavus)  in  the  United 

States. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        467 

entitled  to  a  place  in  a  Wisconsin  list  (/.  c.,  p.  31),  an  opinion  with 
which,  in  so  far  as  the  record  in  question  is  concerned,  I  most  heartily 
concur. 

Like  others  of  our  Bats  it  is  strictly  insectivorous.  It  frequents 
caves  when  available  during  the  winter.  The  number  of  young  varies 
from  one  to  three.  Hahn  says,  "mating  takes  place  about  the  end  of 
November  and  the  young  are  probably  born  in  July.  The  single 
pregnant  female  which  I  have  examined  contained  three  very  small 
embryos  on  the  6th  of  June"  (/.  c.,  p.  630). 

Specimens  examined  from  Illinois: 
Illinois  —  Rosiclaire,   Hardin  Co.,    14   (5  in  alcohol);  Olive  Branch, 

Alexander  Co.,  5;  Golconda,  Pope  Co.,  10  (8  in  alcohol);  Ozark, 

Johnson  Co.,  i;  (O.)  Charleston,  Coles  Co.,  1  =  31. 


Genus  EPTESICUS  Rafinesque. 

Eptesicus  Rafinesque,  Annals  of  Nature,  1820,  p.  2.     Type  Eptesicus 
melanops  Rafinesque.  Miller,  Bull.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,    I,    No.    57, 
1907,  p.  208. 
Ears  rather  thick  and  leathery;  tragus  broadest  near  the  middle 

and  tapering  to  a  point;  rostrum  more  or  less  flattened;  nares  and 

palatal  emargination  not  noticeably  enlarged. 

Dental  formula:  I.  —  ,  C.—,  Pm. 
-  - 


3-3         i-i  2-2          3-3 

Eptesicus  fuscus  (BEAUVOIS). 
BROWN  BAT.     LARGE  BROWN  BAT. 

Vespertilio  fuscus  BEAUVOIS,  Catal.   Peale's  Mus.   Phila.,   1796,  p.   14.     MILES, 

Rept.  Geol.  Surv.  Mich.,  I,  1860  (1861),  p.  219  (Michigan).     MILLER,  N.  Amer. 

Fauna,  No.  13,  1897,  p.  98  (Illinois,  Missouri).     ADAMS,  Rept.  State  Board 

Geol.  Surv.  Mich.,  1908  (1909),  p.  390  (Isle  Royale,  Michigan). 
Adelonycteris  fuscus  EVERMANN  &  BUTLER,  Proc.  Ind.  Acad.  Sci.,   1893   (1894), 

p.  134  (Indiana).     RHOADS,  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  1896  (1897),  p.  204 

(Tennessee). 
Scotophilus  fuscus  STRONG,  Geol.  Wis.,  Surv.  1873-79,  I.  1883,  p.  438  (Wisconsin). 

HERRICK,  Geol.  &  Nat.  Hist.  Surv.  Minn.,  Bull.  No.  7,  1892,  p.  33  (Minnesota). 
Eptesicus  fuscus  MILLER,  Bull.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  No.  57,  1907,  p.  208.     HAHN, 

Ann.  Rept.  Dept.  Geol.  &  Nat.  Resources  Ind.,  1908  (1909),  p.  631  (Indiana). 

HOWELL,  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XXII,  1909,  p.  68  (Tennessee). 
Eptesicus  melanops  WOOD,  Bull.  111.  State  Lab.    Nat.   Hist.,   VIII,    1910,   p.   596 

(Illinois). 
Eptesicus  fuscus  fuscus  WARD,   Bull.  Wis.   Nat.   Hist.  Soc.,  VIII,   1910,  p.    180 

(Wisconsin). 


468    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 

Type  locality  —  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania. 

Distribution  —  Greater  portion  of  the  United  States  and  southern 
Canada,  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific,  except  the  southern  parts 
of  the  Gulf  states  where  it  is  replaced  by  a  slightly  different  form. 

Description  —  Ears  short  and  furred  at  base ;  tip  of  tail  extending 
slightly  beyond  interfemoral  membrane;  wings  and  interfemoral 
membrane  naked;  general  color  of  body  sepia  brown,  paler  on 
under  parts,  the  back  often  showing  a  tinge  of  yellowish  or  cinna- 
mon; fur  when  rubbed  showing  darker  brown  at  base;  number 
of  teeth  in  upper  jaw  14. 

Measurements  —  Total  length,  about  4.40  in.  (m.6  mm.);  tail,  1.62 
in.  (41  mm.);  foot,  .40  in.  (10  mm.). 

The  range  of  the  Brown  Bat  includes  the  whole  of  Illinois  and 
Wisconsin,  and,  while  there  is  little  doubt  that  it  occurs  in 'more  or 
less  numbers  throughout  both  states,  actual  records  are  few.  It  is 
found  in  Indiana  (Hahn);  Missouri  (Miller);  and  is  reported  from 
Minnesota  by  Herrick.  The  Milwaukee  Public  Museum  collection 
contains  seven  specimens  of  this  species  from  Milwaukee,  which  are 
all  that  are  known  to  have  been  taken  in  Wisconsin.  For  Illinois, 
Miller  records  it  from  Richland  and  Hancock  counties  (1.  c.,  p.  97), 
and  Wood  reports  two  specimens  from  Urbana,  Champaign  County, — 
a  very  meagre  list  for  a  species  which  in  1893  Dr.  Harrison  Allen  con- 
sidered to  be  "probably  the  most  common  species  of  any  in  the  United 
States." 

The  Brown  Bat,  so  far  as  known,  differs  but  little  in  habits  from 
those  of  our  other  species,  except  that  according  to  Hahn  in  Indiana 
it  does  not  have  the  same  partiality  for  caves,  comparatively  few 
being  found  in  such  places  (/.  c.,  p.  633).  They  are  strictly  insectiv- 
orous and  the  good  they  do  may  be  judged  from  the  statement  of  Dr. 
R.  W.  Shufeldt  who  says:  "They  drink  a  good  deal  and  have  simply 
enormous  appetites.  One  specimen,  in  the  course  of  a  single  night, 
consumed  21  June-bugs  (Lachnosterna  fusca),  leaving  only  a  few  legs 
and  the  hard  outside  wing-sheaths."* 

While  some  individuals  may  migrate  southward  more  or  less  at  the 
approach  of  cold  weather,  a  considerable  number  at  least  remain  in 
the  North  and  hibernate.  Ward  records  specimens  taken  in  Mil- 
waukee between  December  18  and  February  6  (I.  c.,  1910,  p.  181); 
and  Seton  mentions  a  specimen  found  dormant  at  Ottawa,  Canada, 
December  3,  1894.! 

*  Chapters,  Nat.  Hist.  United  States,  1897,  p.  440. 

t  Life  Histories  of  Northern  Animals,  II,  1909,  p.  1182. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.       469 

The  Field  Museum  collection  contains  specimens  of  this  species 
from  Arkansas,  Kentucky  and  Louisiana,  but  none  from  Illinois  and 
Wisconsin. 

Specimens  examined  from  Wisconsin : 

Wisconsin —  (M.  P.  M.)  Prairie  du  Sac,  Sauk  Co.,  i;  Fountain  City, 
Buffalo  Co.,  2  =  3. 


Map  showing  approximate  distribution  of  the  Brown  Bat  (Eptesicus  fuscus)  and  its  southern 
race  (£.  /.  osceola)  in  eastern  North  America. 


Eptesicus  fuscus  (BEAUVOIS).  Type  locality  —  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania.  De- 
scription as  previously  given. 

Eptesicus  f.  osceola  RHOADS.  (Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  1901,  p.  618.)  Type 
locality  —  Tarpon  Springs,  Hillsboro  Co.,  Florida.  Similar  in  size  to  fuscus, 
but  color  more  cinnamon  brown. 


470    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — ZOOLOGY,  VOL.   X 


Genus  NYCTERIS  Borkhausen. 

Nycteris  Borkh.,  Der  Zool.   (Comp.  Bibliothek  gemein.  Kennt.  f.  a. 

Stande,  Pt.  XXI),  IV-VII,   1797,  p.  66.     Type   Vespertilio  nove- 

boracensis  Erxleben.     Miller,  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XXII,  1909, 

p.  90. 
Lasiurus  Gray,  Zool.  Miscel.,  No.  i,  1831,  p.  38. 

Ears  broad  and  rounded;  upper  surface  of  interfemoral  membrane 
covered  with  fur  (except  on  the  extreme  edge). 

Dental  formula:  I.  - — ->  C.- — ->  Pm.  - — ->  M.^— -»  =  32. 
3-3         i-i  2-2          3-3 

• 
This  genus  and  Nycticeius  are  the  only  ones  of  our  genera,  the 

members  of  which  have  but  2  front  teeth  (incisors)  between  the  canines 
in  the  upper  jaw;  the  others  have  4. 

Nycteris  borealis  (MULLER). 
RED  BAT. 

Vespertilio  borealis  MULLER,  Natursyst.,  Suppl.,  1776,  p.  21. 

Vespertilio  Noveboracensis  LAPHAM,  Trans.  Wis.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  II,  1852  (1853), 
P-  337  (Wisconsin). 

Vespertillio  Noveboracensis  KENNICOTT,  Trans.  111.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  I,  1853-54,  I855, 
P-  577  (Cook  Co.,  Illinois). 

Vespertilio  noveboracensis  MILES,  Rept.  Geol.  Surv.  Mich.,  I,  1860  (1861),  p.  219 
(Michigan). 

Atalapha  noveboracensis  H.  ALLEN,  Bull.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  No.  43,  1893,  p.  153 
(Illinois,  Wisconsin,  Michigan).  EVERMANN  &  BUTLER,  Proc.  Ind.  Acad.  Sci., 
1893  (1894),  p.  134  (Indiana). 

Atalapha  borealis  RHOADS,  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  1896  (1897),  p.  203  (Ten- 
nessee). 

Lasiurus  noveboracensis  ALLEN,  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  XIII,  1869  (1871), 
p.  187  (Iowa).  STRONG,  Geol.  Wis.,  Surv.  1873-79,  I>  1883,  p.  438  (Wisconsin). 
HERRICK,  Geol.  &  Nat.  Hist.  Surv.  Minn.,  Bull.  No.  7,  1892,  p.  28  (Minnesota). 

Lasiurus  borealis  MILLER,  N.  Amer.  Fauna,  No.  13,  1897,  p.  108  (Illinois,  Kentucky, 
Missouri,  etc.).  SNYDER,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  II,  1902,  p.  125  (Wis- 
consin). JACKSON,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  VI,  1908,  p.  33  (Wisconsin). 
HAHN,  Ann.  Rept.  Dept.  Geol.  &  Nat.  Resources  Ind.,  1908  (1909),  p.  634 
(Indiana).  HOWELL,  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XXII,  1909,  p.  68  (Tennessee). 
Ib.,  XXIII,  1910,  p.  33  (Illinois,  Kentucky).  WOOD,  Bull.  111.  State  Lab.  Nat. 
Hist.,  VIII,  1910,  p.  597  (Illinois).  N.  A.  WOOD,  I3th  Rept.  Mich.  Acad.  Sci., 
1911,  p.  134  (Charity  Islands,  Saginaw  Bay,  Michigan). 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        471 

Type  locality  —  New  York. 

Distribution  —  North  America,   from  the   Rocky   Mountains  to   the 
.   Atlantic  coast,  north  to  Quebec,  Manitoba  and    Keewatin,  and 

south  to  the  Gulf  states,  where  it  is  replaced  by  a  slightly  different 

form. 

Description  —  Upper  front  teeth  (incisors)  between  canines,  2 ;  whole 
of   upper  surface  of  interfemoral  membrane  furred, 
except  on  extreme  edge;  tragus  somewhat  triangular 
in  outline,  with  a  slight  concavity  on  anterior  border 
just  below  the  tip;  general  color  varying  from  bright 
reddish  brown  to  yellowish  or  yellowish  red;  a  small 
whitish  patch  in  front  of  the  shoulder. 
Measurements  —  Total  length,  about  4.25  in.  (108  mm.);  tail,  2  in.  (51 

mm.);  foot,  .33  in.  (8  mm.). 

The  Red  Bat  is  found  throughout  Illinois  and  Wisconsin  and  is 
one  of  our  most  common  species.  There  are  specimens  in  the  Field 
Museum  collection  from  Olive  Branch  (Alexander  Co.),  Willow  Springs, 
Chicago,  and  Maywood,  Illinois;  and  from  Beaver  Dam,  Dodge  Co., 
Wisconsin.  Miller  records  it  from  Mount  Carmel,  Olney,  Warsaw 
and  West  Northfield,  Illinois  (/.  c.,  p.  108);  Wood  considers  it  the  most 
common  Bat  in  the  vicinity  of  Urbana,  Champaign  Co.  (/.  c,,  p.  597). 
Wisconsin  specimens  are  preserved  in  the  Milwaukee  Public  Museum 
collection  from  Milwaukee,  Wai  worth  and  Rock  counties.  Snyder 
states  that  it  is  abundant  at  Beaver  Dam,  Dodge  Co.;  and  I  am  satis- 
fied that  a  number  of  Bats  seen  by  me  flying  about  the  houses  at  Wood- 
ruff, Vilas  Co.,  in  July,  1908,  were  this  species,  although  no  specimens 
were  taken. 

The  Red  Bat  usually  makes  its  home  in  hollow  trees  and  there  is 
little  reason  to  doubt  that  it  occasionally  at  least  resorts  to  caves,  al- 
though this  is  denied  by  some  writers.  Hahn,  who  has  had  extensive 
acquaintance  with  the  cave  fauna  of  Indiana  and  Kentucky,  states  that, 
while  he  has  never  met  with  a  live  one  in  caves,  he  found  some  200 
skulls  of  this  species  in  Shawnee  cave  at  Mitchell  (/.  c.,  p.  635),  which 
would  seem  to  be  almost  conclusive  evidence  of  their  presence  there 
in  the  past. 

According  to  various  authorities  the  young  are  born  in  May  and 
number  from  i  to  4. 

Specimens  examined  from  Illinois  and  Wisconsin: 
Illinois  —  Olive  Branch,  Alexander  Co.,  3;  Chicago,  9;  Willow  Springs, 

i;  Maywood,   1  =  14. 
Wisconsin  —  Beaver  Dam,  Dodge  Co.,  3;  (M.  P.  M.)  Milwaukee,  20; 

Delavan,  Walworth  Co.,  i;  Milton,  Rock  Co.,  i;  Janesville,  Rock 

Co.,  3  =  28. 


472     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 


Map  illustrating  the  probable  distribution  of  the  Red  Bat  (Nycteris  borealis}  and  the  southern 
subspecies  (N.  b.  seminolus)  in  eastern  North  America. 

Nycteris  borealis  (MULLER).  Type  locality  —  New  York.   Description  as  previously 

given. 
Nycteris  b.  seminolus  (RHOADS).     (Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  1895,  p.  32.)    Type 

locality  —  Tarpon  Springs,   Hillsboro  Co.,  Florida.     Similar  to  borealis,  but 

general  color  mahogany  brown. 


Nycteris  cinereus  (BEAUVOIS). 
HOARY  BAT. 

Vespertilio  cinereus  BEAUVOIS,  Catal.  Peale's  Mus.  Phila.,  1796,  p.  15. 

Vespertilio  pruinosus  LAPHAM,  Trans.  Wis.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  II,  1852  (1853),  p.  337 

(Wisconsin). 
Vespertillio  pruinosus  KENNICOTT,  Trans.  111.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  I,  1853-54  (1855), 

P-  577  (Cook  Co.,  Illinois). 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        473 

Atalapha  cinerea  H.  ALLEN,  Bull.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  No.  43,  1893,  p.  162  (St.  Louis, 
Missouri).  EVERMANN  &  BUTLER,  Proc.  Ind.  Acad.  Sci.,  1893  (1894),  p.  135 
(Indiana). 

Lasiurus  cinerea  SNYDER,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  II,  1902,  p.  125  (Wisconsin). 

Lasiurus  cinereus  ALLEN,  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  XIII,  1869  (1871),  p.  187 
(Iowa).  MILLER,  N.  Amer.  Fauna,  No.  13,  1897,  p.  114  (Illinois,  Minnesota, 
etc.).  ADAMS,  Rept.  State  Board  Geol.  Surv.  Mich.,  1905  (1906),  p.  31  (Michi- 
gan). JACKSON,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  VI,  1908,  p.  33  (Wisconsin).  HOL- 
LISTER,  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  VI,  1908,  p.  142  (Wisconsin).  HAHN,  Ann. 
Rept.  Dept.  Geol.  &  Nat.  Resources  Ind.,  1908  (1909),  p.  637  (Indiana).  WOOD 
Bull.  111.  State  Lab.  Nat.  Hist.,  VIII,  1910,  p.  599  (Illinois). 

Type  locality  —  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania. 

Distribution  —  Practically  the  whole  of  North  America  south  of  Hudson 
Bay  and  the  Great  Slave  Lake  region. 

Description  —  Color  of  body  hoary  (brown  mixed  with  whitish) ;  upper 
surface  of  interfemoral  membrane  covered  with  fur  except  on  the 
extreme  edge;  forehead  and  band  across  the  throat  buff,  color, 
bordered  below  by  blackish;  edge  of  ears  black; -muzzle  blackish, 
a  narrow  black  stripe  extending  above  the  eyes. 

Measurements  —  Total  length,  about  5.30  in.  (130  to  140  mm.);  tail, 
2.12  in.  (54  mm.);  foot,  .40  in.  (10  mm.);  extent  (spread  of  wing 
in  fresh  specimens)  15.75  m-  (4°°  mm.);  forearm,  about  2  in. 
(50  mm.  or  more). 

The  color  is  somewhat  variable,  but  its  brown  color  frosted  with 
white  (not  reddish  or  yellowish  red  as  in  N.  borealis)  and  larger  size 
will  distinguish  it  from  that  species,  and  the  completely  furred  inter- 
femoral  membrane  from  other  species  which  occur  within  our  limits. 

The  Hoary  Bat,  while  apparently  by  no  means  common,  occurs 
throughout  Illinois  and  Wisconsin.  There  are  specimens  in  the  Field 
Museum  collection  taken  in  Chicago  and  I  have  examined  a  specimen 
taken  by  Mr.  T.  L.  Atkinson  at  Charleston,  Coles  Co.  Miller  records 
it  from  Warsaw,  Hancock  Co. ;  and  Wood  includes  it  in  his  Mammals 
of  Champaign  Co.,  Illinois.  I  have  secured  a  specimen  September  5, 
1910,  at  Lake  Geneva,  Walworth  Co.,  Wisconsin,  and  have  examined 
specimens  from  Rock  and  Milwaukee  counties  of  that  state.  Hollister 
records  one  from  Delavan,  Walworth  Co.;  Snyder,  one  from  Dodge 
County;  and  Jackson,  from  Janesville  and  Milton,  Rock  Co. 

Although  not  as  yet  recorded  from  northern  Wisconsin  or  southern 
Illinois,  specimens  have  been  taken  in  Minnesota  (Miller),  Michigan 
(Adams),  Iowa  (Allen),  Indiana  (Hahn),  and  Missouri  (H.  Allen). 

This  large  Bat  probably  occurs  most  commonly  in  Illinois  in  spring 
and  fall  during  the  migrations,  as  most  of  them  are  supposed  to  breed 
from  southern  Wisconsin  northward.  That  at  least  a  few  individuals 


474    FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 

remain  with  us  during  the  breeding  season  is  proved  by  the  fact  that 
Hahn  records  a  female  with  two  young,  having  been  taken  in  June  in 
southern  Indiana  (/.  c.,  p.  638).  The  young  are  born  late  in  May  or 
early  in  June  and  number  from  2  to  4. 

The  power  of  flight  in  Bats  is  illustrated  by  the  occasional  occur- 
rence of  this  species  in  Bermuda.*  To  reach  there  they  were  forced  to 
make  a  continuous  flight  of  nearly  600  miles  from  the  nearest  land. 

Specimens  examined  from  Illinois  and  Wisconsin : 
Illinois  —  Chicago,  3;  (O.)  Charleston,  Coles  Co.,  1  =  4. 
Wisconsin  —  Lake  Geneva,  Walworth  Co.,  i;  (M.  P.  M.)  Janesville, 

Rock  Co.,  4;  Milwaukee,  2  =  7. 


Map  showing  approximate  range  of  the  Hoary  Bat  (Nycteris  cinereus)  in  eastern  North  America. 
Its  range  includes  practically  the  whole  of  North  America  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific,  south  of 
Hudson  Bay  and  the  Great  Slave  Lake  region. 

*  Jones,  Mamm.  of  Bermuda.  (Bull.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  1884,  p.  145.) 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.       475 

Genus  NYCTICEIUS  Rafinesque. 

Nycticeius  Rafinesque,  Journ.  de  Physique,  LXXXVIII,  1819,  p.  417. 

Type  Vespertilio  humeralis  Rafinesque. 

"Upper  incisor  distinctly  separated  from  canine;  lower  incisors 
scarcely  crowded  ;  outer  lower  incisor  tricuspidate  and  not  smaller  than 
others;  skull  low  and  narrow;  uropatagium  furred  at  extreme  base 
only;  tragus  blunt  and  bent  forward;  tip  of  tail  free  from  membrane; 
mammae  2."  (Miller,  /.  c.,  p.  118.) 

Dental  formula:  I.  —  ,  C.—  ,  Pm. 
-  - 


3-3         i-i  2-2         3-3 

Nycticeius  humeralis  (RAFINESQUE). 
RAFINESQUE  BAT. 

humeralis  RAFINESQUE,  Amer.  Month.  Mag.,  III.  1818,  p.  445. 
N  \ycticeius]  humeralis  RAFINESQUE,  Journ.  de  Physique,  LXXXVIII,  1819,  p.  417. 
Nycticejus  humeralis  RHOADS,  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  1896  (1897),  p.  204 

(Tennessee). 

Nycticejus  crepuscularis  TRUE,  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  VII,  1884  (1885),  p.  602. 
Nycticeius  humeralis  MILLER,  N.  Amer.  Fauna,  No.  13,  1897,  p.  118  (Kentucky, 

etc.).     HAHN,  Ann.  Rept.  Dept.  Geol.  &  Nat.  Resources  Ind.,  1908  (1909), 

p.  649.     WOOD,  Bull.  111.  State  Lab.  Nat.  Hist.,  VIII,  1910,  p.  600  (Illinois). 

HOWELL,  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XXIII,  1910,  p.  33  (Illinois,  Kentucky). 

Type  locality  —  Kentucky. 

Distribution  —  Southern  United   States,   north  to   Pennsylvania  and 
Illinois  and  west  to  Nebraska  and  Texas. 

Description  —  Upper  front  teeth  (incisors)  between  canines  2  ;  tip  of  tail 
extending  slightly  beyond  interfemoral  membrane; 
general  color  dull  umber  brown  above,  paler 
below;  fur  decidedly  darker  at  base;  general  color 
somewhat  variable,  the  color  of  the  upper  parts 
occasionally  approaching  sepia  brown;  ears  rather 
small,  thick  and  leathery;  tragus  short  and  not 

sharp  pointed. 

Measurements  —  Total  length,  about  3.65  in.  (92  mm.);  tail,  1.40  in. 
(35  mm.);  foot,  .40  in.  (10  mm.);  expanse,  about  9.50  in. 
So  far  as  known,  the  range  of  the  Rafinesque  Bat  within  our  limits 

is  restricted  to  about  the  southern  two-thirds  of  Illinois.     There  are 

specimens  in  the  Field  Museum  collection  from  Olive  Branch,  Alexander 

Co.;  and  Howell  records  it  from  that  locality;  Wood  states  that  it  is 

not  rare  in  Champaign  County  (/.  c.,p.  600),  which  is  the  most  northern 

record  we  have  for  the  state. 


476    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

Specimens  examined  from  Illinois : 
Illinois  —  Olive  Branch,  Alexander  Co.,  n,  (5  in  alcohol)  =  n. 


Map  showing  approximate  range  of  the  Rafinesque  Bat  (Nycliceius  humeralis)  in  the  United 

States. 

Corynorhinus  macrotis  (LECONTE),  BIG-EARED  BAT.  The  Big-eared 
Bat  has  not  been  recorded  from  within  our  limits,  but  it  is  not  unlikely 
that  it  occurs  in  Illinois  and  it  should  be  carefully  looked  for  in  the 
caves  along  the  Wabash  River  in  Hardin  and  Polk  counties  in  the 
extreme  southeastern  portion  of  the  state.  In  Indiana  it  has  been 
recorded  from  Greencastle,  Putnam  Co.;*  and  Mitchell,  Lawrence 
Co.;f  and  Hahn  states  he  saw  six  individuals  in  the  caves  at  the  latter 
place  during  the  winter  of  1906-07  and  secured  two  specimens. J 

The  species  may  readily  be  distinguished  from  our  other  Bats  by 
its  huge  ears  which  measure  an  inch  or  more  in  length.  The  gen- 

*  Butler,  Proc.  Ind.  Acad.  Sci.,  1894  (1895),  p.  86. 
t  McAtee,  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XX,  1907,  p.  7. 
t  Ann.  Rept.  Dept.  Geol.  &  Nat.  Resources  Ind.,  1908  (1909),  p.  619. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.       477 

eral  color  of  this  Bat  is  pale  sepia  brown,  or  yellowish  brown,  the  fur 

darker  at  the  base;  the  belly  is 
[grayish  white.  The  tail  does  not 
extend  beyond  the  interfemoral 
membrane.  Total  length,  about 
4  in.  (105  mm.);  tail  vertebrae, 
about  2  in.  (50  mm.);  forearm, 
about  i. 60  in.  (41  mm.);  ear,  about 
i. 20  in.  (30  mm.). 

The  range  of  the  Big-eared  Bat 
is  restricted,  so  far  as  known,  to 

southeastern  United  States,  the  type  locality  being  Georgia. 


Big-eared  Bat. 


Family  MOLOSSID^. 

Nyctinomus  depressus  (WARD),*  FREE-TAILED  BAT.  It  is  not 
unlikely  that  stragglers  belonging  to  this  species  may  occur  in  Illinois; 

a  specimen  was  found  dead  in  Central 
Park,  Cedar  Rapids,  Iowa,  in  the  fall 
of  1910,  which  was  secured  by  Dr. 
B.  H.  Bailey  who  kindly  sent  it  to  me 
for  examination.  It  may  readily  be  dis- 
tinguished from  others  of  our  Bats  by 
the  character  of  the  tail,  the  free  por- 
tion of  which  extends  about  an  inch 
beyond  the  interfemoral  membrane. 
Other  characters  which  will  aid  in  its 
identification  are,  ears  large  and  ap- 
parently united ;  general  color  very  dark  umber  brown.  Measurements 
(from  dried  skin),  total  length,  about  4.50  in.  (115  mm.);  total  length 
of  tail  vertebras,  about  1.65  in.  (42  mm.);  length  of  free  portion  of  tail 
vertebras,  about  .90  in.  (23  mm.);  length  of  forearm,  2.40  in.  (61  mm.); 
height  of  ear  about  .65  in.  (16.5  mm.)  The  occurrence  of  this  Bat 
in  eastern  Iowa  greatly  extends  its  previously  known  range.  Speci- 
mens of  this  wandering  Mexican  species  have  been  taken  in  California, 
Arizona,  Colorado  and  Nevada.f  Another  and  quite  different  species 
belonging  to  this  genus  (Nyctinomus  mexicanus)  is  common  in  Florida 
and  the  Gulf  states. 

*  Ward,  American  Naturalist,  XXV,  1891,  p.  747.  Type  locality — Tacubaya, 
City  of  Mexico. 

t  Mr.  Gerrit  S.  Miller,  Jr.  considers  the  specimen  taken  in  Nevada  and  described 
by  H.  Allen  as  Nyctinomus  macrotis  nevadensis  (Monog.  Bats  N.  Amer.,  1893,  p.  171) 
to  be  this  species.  (See  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XV,  1902,  p.  250.) 


ORDER  PRIMATES. 
MAN,  APES,  MONKEYS,  ETC. 

This  order  comprises  two  living  suborders:  Lemuroidea  containing 
the  Lemurs;  and  Anthropoidea,  which  includes  the  Monkeys,  Apes 
and  Man.  With  the  exception  of  the  last  no  representative  of  the  order 
occurs  within  our  limits,*  but  Man  has  existed  in  North  America  since 
a  very  early  period  and  it  is  obvious,  from  a  zoological  standpoint, 
should  be  included  in  a  faunal  list  of  the  mammals  of  this  region. 
With  the  exception  of  Man  all  the  members  of  the  order  are  nearly  or 
quite  covered  with  hair  and  are  generally  arboreal  in  habits.  The 
nails  are  flattened  (except  in  the  Lemurs  and  Marmosets)  and  the  hands 
are  adapted  for  grasping,  as  are  also  the  feet  to  a  more  or  less  degree,  as 
(except  in  Man)  the  hallux  or  big  toe  is  opposable  to  the  digits.  The 
orbits  of  the  skull  are  surrounded  by  bone  and  the  orbital  and  temporal 
vacuities  are  at  least  partly  separated.  Clavicles  are  always  present; 
the  scaphoid  and  lunar  of  the  carpus  are  distinct;  the  humerus  lacks 
the  entepicondylar  foramen  and  the  femur  a  third  trochanter.  The 
stomach  is  usually  simple,  being  'sacculated  only  in  the  largely  vege- 
tarian subfamily  Semnopithecince;  a  caecum  is  present  and  large.  The 
mammae  are  usually  thoracic,  always  so  except  in  some  Lemurs,  where 
they  are  also  abdominal.  Tail  varying  from  very  long,  as  in  some  of  the 
Monkeys,  to  entirely  absent  in  the  higher  Apes  (Simiidce)  and  Man. 

Suborder  ANTHROPOIDEA. 

The  Anthropoidea  are  divided  into  five  families,  two  of  which, 
Hapalidce,  the  Marmosets,  and  Cebidce,  the  American  Monkeys,  are 
confined  to  the  New  World;  while  the  members  of  the  Cercopthecidce, 
the  Macaques,  Baboons,  etc.,  and  Simiidce,  which  includes  the  Gibbons, 
Ourangs,  Chimpanzees,  and  Gorillas,  are  all  Old  World  forms.  The 
fifth  family,  Hominidce,  Man,  contains  but  one  living  genus  f,  Homo, 

*  Fossil  remains  of  Monkeys  and  Lemurine  mammals  have  been  found  in  Wyom- 
ing. (See  Wortman,  Amer.  Journ.  Sci.,  XV,  1903,  p.  191;  and  Osborn,  The  Age  of 
Mammals,  1910,  p.  134.) 

t  Authorities  differ  as  to  whether  the  fossil  genus  Pithecanthropus  belongs  to 
this  family  or  to  the  Simiidce.  Osborn  places  it  in  the  Hominida  (1.  c.,  p.  545). 

478 


FEB.,  1912.    MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.       479 

and  one  species,  H.  sapiens,  which  is  represented  by  various  races  in 
different  parts  of  the  World. 

The  principle  characters  which  distinguish  the  families  belonging 
to  the  Anthropoidea  from  their  nearest  allies,  the  Lemuroidea,  may 
briefly  be  summarized  as  follows: 

Orbit  of  skull  largely  separated  from  the  temporal  fossa  by  a  plate 
of  bone;  lachrymal  foramen  situated  inside  the  margin  of  the  orbit 
instead  of  outside;  upper  incisors  without  diastemata  (gaps  between 
the  teeth) ;  second  digit  of  hand  well  developed  and  second  digit  of  foot 
with  flattened  nail,  except  in  the  Marmosets  (Hapalida);  cerebral 
hemispheres  highly  developed  and  nearly  or  quite  concealing  the  cere- 
bellum; uterus  not  bicornate;  placenta  discoidal  and  deciduate;  mam? 
mae  always  thoracic,  never  abdominal. 


Family    HOMINID^.      Man. 

Aside  from  the  supposed  distinctive  psychological  characters  attrib- 
uted to  members  of  this  family,  the  following  are  the  most  important 
anatomical  differences  which  distinguish  Man  from  the  highest  Apes: 
Size  and  shape  of  the  non-opposable  hallux  (which  aids  in  assuming  an 
upright  position  in  walking);  relative  shortness  of  the  arms;  12  rib- 
bearing  vertebras;  thumb  relatively  larger  and  with  greater  mobility; 
skull  rounded  and  smooth  (not  ridged  as  in  the  Apes)  and  face  less 
projecting;  cerebral  hemispheres  greatly  developed;  absence  of  pro- 
jecting canines,  etc.  Various  other  characters,  such  as  the  usual  absence 
of  the  scansorius  muscle  and  the  rudimentary  character  of  the  ear 
muscles,  are  often  cited,  but  the  occasional  presence  of  the  former  and 
functional  activity  of  the  latter  greatly  detract  from  their  value. 
The  same  may  be  said  of  the  apparent  absence  of  hair  on  the  greater 
portion  of  the  human  body,  as  many  abnormalities  occur,  and  in  any 
event  the  difference  is  evidently  only  in  extent  of  development. 

There  is  no  such  development  of  the  larynx  in  the  human  species 
as  is  shown  in  the  large  throat  pouches  of  various  Anthropoids;  and 
as  Beddard  remarks,  ''The  minute  diverticula  of  that  organ,  known 
to  human  anatomists  as  the  ventricles  of  Morgagni,  alone  remain  to 
testify  to  the  former  howling  apparatus  in  the  ancestors  of  Man."* 

This  does  not  necessarily  imply  that  the  original  type  of  mammal 
from  which  the  modern  races  of  men  have  sprung  was  an  Ape.  That 
both  Man  and  Ape  are  descended  from  a  common  ancestor  has  strong 
arguments  in  its  favor,  but  we  do  not  know  what  that  ancestor  was  like. 

*  Mammalia,  London,  1902,  p.  589. 


480    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 

It  is  possible,  as  Prof.  Haeckel  suggests,  that  it  has  been  found  in 
Pithecanthropus*  the  fossil  fragments  of  which  were  discovered  in 
Java,  but  the  problem  has  not  as  yet  been  solved  and  perhaps  the 
answer  will  always  be,  "We  do  not  know." 


Genus  HOMO  Linn. 

« 

Homo  Linnaeus,  Syst.  Nat.,  X  ed.,  I,  1758,  p.  20.      Type  Homo  sapiens 
Linn. 

Dental  formula:  I.  — ->  C.  - — ->  Pm.  - — -»  M.  — -  =  32. 
2-2         i-i  2-2         3-3 

Homo  sapiens  americanus  (LINN). 
AMERICAN  INDIAN. 

[Homo  sapiens]   Americanus  Linn.,   Syst.   Nat.,  X  ed.,    1758,  p.    20. 

Type  locality  —  America. 

The  supposed  origin  and  antiquity  of  Man  in  this  region  will  not  be 
discussed  here,  as  the  subject  is  beyond  the  scope  of  this  work. 

*  The  Last  Link,  London,  1898. 


APPENDIX. 


SOME  ANIMALS  OF  THE   PAST. 

While  it  is  not  my  intention  to  include  fossil  species  in  the  present 
work,  it  seems  desirable  to  refer  briefly  to  some  of  them  which  are  known 
to  have  inhabited  this  region  in  past  ages,  especially  as,  in  the  case 
of  the  Proboscidians  (huge  elephant -like  beasts),  the  teeth  and  bones, 
which  are  found  from  time  to  time  within  our  limits,  are  of  such  great 
size  as  to  excite  curiosity  as  to  their  origin.  It  is  hardly  necessary  to 
state,  however,  that  my  remarks  are  here  designed  merely  as  an  intro- 
duction to  the  subject. 

During  what  is  known  as  the  Pleistocene  Epoch,  a  period  of  time  of 
vast  antiquity  although  comparatively  recent  from  the  standpoint  of 
the  geologist,  enormous  numbers  of  strange  mammals  existed  in  North 
America.  Elephants  and  Mastodons  were  very  numerous,  as  well 
as  Giant  Sloths  (Megalonyx),  Camels,  Llamas,  Bison,  peculiar  Horses, 
Cats  as  large  as  a  modern  Tiger,  Sabre-tooths  (members  of  the  Cat 
family  having  enormously  developed  canines),  a  huge  Beaver-like 
animal  (Castor aides)  as  large  as  a  Bear,  and  a  host  of  others  large  and 
small.  By  no  means  all  of  these  animals  are  known  to  have  inhabited 
this  region,  but  many  of  them  undoubtedly  did,  together  with  other 
strange  creatures  of  which  we  know  nothing.  Bones  of  Mastodons 
and  Mammoths,  however,  have  frequently  been  found  in  Illinois  and 
Wisconsin.  Those  of  a  Mammoth  were  discovered  while  excavating 
a  sewer  in  the  city  of  Milwaukee;  and  Mastodon  remains  have  been 
found  in  many  places,  including  at  least  two  localities  (Evanston  and 
Glencoe)  in  Cook  Co.,  Illinois.  In  a  carefully  prepared  paper  Miss 
Netta  C.  Anderson  records  the  finding  of  remains  of  these  huge  Probos- 
cidians in  26  counties  in  Illinois.*  It  is  stated  that  a  tusk  of  a  Masto- 
don dug  up  east  of  Illiopolis,  Sangamon  County,  measured  9  feet  in 
length  and  about  2  feet  in  circumference  at  the  larger  end;  and  a  molar 
tooth  found  in  Calhoun  County  is  claimed  to  have  weighed  nearly  18 
pounds.  These  animals  did  not  differ  greatly  in  size  from  Elephants  of 
the  present  day. 

During  the  past  century  a  number  of  bodies  of  Mammoths  have  been 
found  in  Siberia  in  a  frozen  state  embedded  in  ice  or  soil  where  they 

*  A  preliminary  List  of  fossil  Mastodon  and  Mammoth '  Remains  in  Illinois 
and  Iowa.  Augustana  Library  Pub.,  Rock  Island,  111.,  No.  5,  1905,  pp.  1-43. 

481 


482     FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 


Molar  tooth  of  Mastodon  americanus,*  Molar  tooth  of  Elepha.t  primigenius, 

American  Mastodon.  Northern  Mammoth. 

(About  J  nat.  size.)  (About  J  nat.  size.) 

had  been  preserved  for  ages,  some  of  them  in  nearly  perfect  condition. 
In  1799  the  body  of  a  Mammoth,  E.  primigenius,  was  found  frozen 
in  the  ice  in  the  estuary  of  the  Lena  River,  Siberia.  It  was  in  such  a 
good  state  pf  preservation  that  it  is  claimed  some  of  its  flesh  was  eaten 
by  the  men  who  discovered  it.  Unfortunately,  however,  the  carcass 
was  almost  destroyed  by  wolves  and  bears  before  the  remains  were 
ultimately  secured  and  taken  to  St.  Petersburg,  where  the  skeleton 
and  some  of  the  hide  are  preserved.  Unlike  the  modern  Elephant, 
these  animals  were  covered  with  long,  brown  hair  mixed  with  longer, 
black  hairs,  and  had  a  shaggy  mane. 

In  1901  another  frozen  specimen  was  discovered  near  Beresovka, 
Siberia,  which  was  practically  complete;  but  much  of  the  hair  was  lost 
in  excavating  it.  The  animal  was  saved  and  mounted  and  is  now  on 
exhibition  in  the  museum  at  St.  Petersburg. 

We  have  reason  to  believe  that  species  belonging  to  this  order 
existed  in  North  America  at  a  comparatively  recent  date  and  were 
not  unlikely  contemporaneous  with  primitive  man.  It  is  interesting 
to  note  that  some  Indian  tribes  have  traditions  that  the  huge  bones 
of  these  animals  belonged  to  "Fathers  of  Oxen,"  beasts  that  lived 
in  ancient  times  together  with  a  giant  race  of  men. 

Those  who  desire  further  information  concerning  our  fossil  species 
are  referred  to  such  well  known  publications  as:  Extinct  Monsters,  by 
H.  N.  Hutchinson,  New  York,  1892;  Creatures  of  Other  Days,  by  H. 
N.  Hutchinson,  New  York,  1894;  Manual  of  Geology,  by  J.  A.  Dana, 
4th  ed.,  1895 ;  Animals  of  the  Past,  by  F.  C.  Lucas,  New  York,  1901,  and 
other  works  by  the  same  author;  The  Evolution  of  the  Elephant,  by 
Richard  S.  Lull,  Amer.  Journ.  Sci.,  March,  1908;  and  The  Age  of 
Mammals  in  Europe,  Asia  and  North  America,  by  H.  F.  Osborn,  New 
York,  1910. 

*  Cuvier's  name  of  Mastodon  for  this  genus  must  give  place  to  Mammut  of 
Blumenbach  but  the  change  here  might  be  misleading. 


BIBLIOGRAPHY. 


WORKS  AND   PAPERS   HAVING   SPECIAL  REFERENCE   TO 

THE   MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS,  WISCONSIN 

AND   ADJOINING  STATES. 

1844 

PLUMMER,  J.  T.  Scraps  in  Natural  History  (Quadrupeds).  Amer.  Journ.  Science 
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1853 

HOY,  P.  R.     The.  Striped  Gopher,  or  Prairie  Ground  Squirrel,  of  Wisconsin.     Agr. 

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1855 

KENNICOTT,  R.     Catalogue  of  Animals  observed  in  Cook  County,  Illinois.     Trans. 

111.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  I,  1853-54  (1855),  pp.  577-595- 
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1857 

KENNICOTT,  R.     The  Quadrupeds  of  Illinois,  injurious  and  beneficial  to  the  Farmer. ' 
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KENNICOTT,  R.  The  Quadrupeds  of  Illinois,  injurious  and  beneficial  to  the  Farmer. 
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Agr.  Rept.  for  1856,  U.  S.  Patent  Office  Rept.,  1857,  pp.  52-110.) 

1858 

KENNICOTT,  R.  The  Quadrupeds  of  Illinois,  injurious  and  beneficial  to  the  Farmer. 
Agr.  Rept.  for  1857,  U.  S.  Patent  Office  Rept.,  1858,  pp.  72-107. 

1859 

KENNICOTT,  R.     (On  Muridae.)     Proc.   Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  VI,  1856-59  (1859), 

p.  182. 
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Agr.  Rept.  for  1858,  U.  S.  Patent  Office  Rept.,  1859,  pp.  241-256. 

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1861 

MILES,  M.  A  Catalogue  of  the  Mammals,  Birds,  Reptiles  and  Mollusks  of  Michi- 
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THOMAS,  C.  Mammals  of  Illinois.  Catalogue.  Trans.  111.  State  Agr.  Soc.,  IV, 
1859-60  (1861),  pp.  653-661. 

1869 

RAYMOND,  R.  Mammals  found  at  the  present  time  in  Franklin  County  [Indiana]. 
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1871 

ALLEN,  J.  A.  Notes  on  the  Mammals  of  Iowa.  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  XIII, 
1869  (1871),  pp.  178-194.  (Contains  several  references  to  Illinois  mammals.) 

1872 

SANBORN,  T.  Hibernation  of  the  Jumping  Mouse.  Amer.  Nat.,  VI,  1872, 
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1873 

BARRETT,  M.     On  the  Migration  of  certain  Animals  as  influenced  by  Civilization. 

Amer.  Nat.,  VII,  1873,  pp.  693-695. 

GILLMAN,  H.     The  Caribou  on  Lake  Superior.     Amer.  Nat.,  VII,  1873,  p.  751. 
PERKINS,  G.  H.     The  Flying  Squirrel.     Amer.  Nat.,  VII,  1873,  pp.  132-139. 

1875 

HOY,  P.  R.  On  Hibernation  as  exhibited  in  the  Striped  Gopher.  Proc.  Amer. 
Assoc.  for  the  Adv.  of  Sci.,  1875,  pp.  148-150. 

1877 

ALLEN,  J.  A.  History  of  the  American  Bison,  Bison  americanus.  Ninth  Ann. 
Rept.  U.  S.  Geol.  Surv.,  1875  (1877),  pp.  443-587.  (Reprinted  from  Mem. 
Geol.  Surv.,  Kentucky,  I,  Pt.  II,  1876.) 

1882 

BRAYTON,  A.  W.  Report  on  the  Mammalia  of  Ohio.  Rept.  Geol.  Surv.  Ohio, 
IV,  Pt.  i,  Zool.,  1882,  pp.  1-185.  (A  number  of  references  to  species  in  Illinois.) 

HOY,  P.  R.  The  larger  Wild  Animals  that  have  become  extinct  in  Wisconsin. 
Trans.  Wis.  Acad.  Sci.,  Arts  &  Letters,  V,  1877-81  (1882),  pp.  255-257. 

QUICK,  E.  R.  Mammals  found  in  Franklin  County,  Indiana.  Atlas  of  Franklin 
County,  1882,  pp.  9-10. 

1883 

STRONG,  M.  List  of  the  Mammals  of  Wisconsin.  Geol.  Wis.,  Surv.  of  1873-79, 
I,  1883,  pp.  436-440. 

1884 

DINWIDDIE,  E.  Animals  of  Lake  County  [Indiana].  In  Ball's  Hist,  of  Lake  Co., 
Indiana,  1884,  pp.  150-153. 


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1885 

QUICK,  E.  R.  and  BUTLER,  A.  W.  The  Habits  of  some  Arvicolinae.  Amer.  Nat., 
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1890 

CARMAN,  H.  A  preliminary  Report  on  the  Animals  of  the  Mississippi  Bottoms 
near  Quincy,  Illinois,  in  August,  1888.  Bull.  111.  State  Lab.  Nat.  Hist.,  Ill, 
1890,  pp.  123-184.  (Brief  mention  made  of  mammals.) 

OSBORN,  H.  Catalogue  of  the  Mammals  of  Iowa.  Proc.  Iowa  Acad.  Sci.,  I, 
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1891 

BUTLER,  A.  W.  Our  smaller  Mammals  and  their  Relation  to  Horticulture. 
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1892 

BUTLER,  A.  W.     On  Indiana  Shrews.     Proc.  Ind.  Acad.  Sci.,  1891  (1892),  pp.  161- 

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1893 

Cox,  U.  O.  List  of  the  Birds  and  Mammals  of  Randolph  County,  Indiana. 
Orn.  and  Ool.,  XVIII,  1893,  pp.  2-3. 

1894 

EVERMANN,  B.  W.  and  BUTLER,  A.  W.     Preliminary  List  of  Indiana  Mammals. 

Proc.  Ind.  Acad.  Sci.,  1893  (1894),  pp.  124-139. 
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Essex  Inst.,  XXVI,  1894,  pp.  1-63. 

1895 

BUTLER,  A.  W.  The  Mammals  of  Indiana.  Proc.  Ind.  Acad.  Sci.,  1894  (1895), 
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1896 

BLATCHLEY,  W.  S.  The  Fauna  of  ,  Indiana  Caves.  Twenty-first  Report  Ind. 
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1897 

RHOADS,  S.  N.     Contributions  to  the  Zoology  of  Tennessee.     Proc.  Acad.  Nat. 

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1897,  p.  10. 


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1898 

ELLIOT,  D.  G.     Collection  of  Mammals  from  Iowa,  procured  by  G.  K.  Cherrie. 
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1900 

BAILEY,  V.     Revision  of  American  Voles  of  the  Genus  Microtus.     N.  Amer.  Fauna, 

No.  17,  1900. 
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Soc.,  I,  1900,  pp.  63-64. 

1902 

SNYDER,  W.  E.     A  List,  with  brief  Notes,  of  the  Mammals  of  Dodge  County, 
Wisconsin.     Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  II,  No.  2,  1902,  pp.  113-126. 

1905 

OSBORN,  H.     The  recently  extinct  and  vanishing  Animals  of  Iowa.     Annals  of 
Iowa,  3d  ser.,  VI,  No.  8,  1905,  pp.  561-570. 

1906 

ADAMS,  C.  C.     Notes  on  the  Mammals  of  the  Porcupine  Mountains  and  Isle  Royale, 
Michigan.     Rept.  State  Board  Geol.  Surv.  Mich.,  1905  (1906),  pp.  128-133. 

1907 

HAHN,  W.  L.     Notes  on  Mammals  of  the  Kankakee  Valley.     Proc.  U.  S.  Nat. 

Mus.,  XXXII,  1907,  pp.  455-464. 
JACKSON,  H.  H.  T.     Notes   on   the   Mammals   of   southwestern    Missouri.     Proc. 

Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XX,  1907,  pp.  71-74. 
Me  ATEE,  W.  L.     A  List  of  the  Mammals,  Reptiles  and  Batrachians  of  Monroe 

County,  Indiana.     Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XX,  1907,  pp.  1-16. 

D,  H.  L.     A  Weasel  new  to  Wisconsin's  Fauna.     Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc., 

V,  1907,  pp.  63-64. 
BANTA,  A.  M.     The  Fauna  of  Mayfield's  Cave.  Carnegie  Institution  Pub.,  No.  6, 

Washington,  D.  C.,  1907. 

1908 

HAHN,  W.  L.     Notes  on  the  Mammals  and  Cold-blooded  Vertebrates  of  the  Indiana 

University  Farm.     Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  XXXV,  1908,  pp.  545-581. 
HAHN,  W.  L.     Habits  and   sensory  Adaptations  of  Cave-inhabiting  Bats.     Bull. 

Biog.  Surv.,  XV,  1908,  pp.  135-193. 
HOLLISTER,  N.     Notes  on  Wisconsin  Mammals.     Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  VI, 

Nos.  3-4,  1908,  pp.  137-142. 
HOLLISTER,  N.     The  last  Records  of  Deer  in  Walworth  County,  Wisconsin.     Bull. 

Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  VI,  Nos.  3-4,  1908,  pp.  143-144. 
JACKSON,  H.  H.  T.     A  preliminary  List  of  Wisconsin  Mammals.     Bull.  Wis.  Nat. 

Hist.  Soc.,  VI,  Nos.  1-2,  1908,  pp.  13-34. 
WARD,  H.  L.     The  American  Elk  in  southern  Wisconsin.     Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist. 

Soc.,  VI,  Nos.  3-4,  1908,  pp.  145-146. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        487 

1909 

ADAMS,  C.  C.  Notes  on  Isle  Royale  Mammals  and  their  ecological  Relations. 
Rept.  State  Board  Geol.  Surv.  Mich.,  1908  (1909),  pp.  389-422. 

HAHN,  W.  L.  The  Mammals  of  Indiana.  Ann.  Rept.  Dept.  Geol.  &  Nat.  Re- 
sources, 1908  (1909),  pp.  417-663. 

WARD,  H.  L.  Additional  Records  of  the  Alleghenian  Least  Weasel  in  Wisconsin. 
Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  VII,  1909,  pp.  11-12. 

1910 

HOLLISTER,  N.  A  Check-list  of  Wisconsin  Mammals.  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist. 
Soc.,  VIII,  No.  I,  1910,  pp.  21-31. 

HOWELL,  A.  H.  Notes  on  Mammals  of  the  Middle  Mississippi  Valley,  with  De- 
scription of  a  new  Woodrat.  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XXII,  1910,  pp.  23-33. 
(Numerous  Illinois  records  and  description  of  Neotoma  floridana  tllinoiensis.) 

JACKSON,  H.  H.  T.  The  Distribution  of  certain  Wisconsin  Mammals.  Bull. 
Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  VIII,  1910,  pp.  86-90. 

VAN  HYNING,  T.  and  PELLETT,  F.  C.  An  annotated  Catalogue  of  the  recent  Mam- 
mals of  Iowa.  Proc.  Iowa  Acad.  Sci.,  XVII,  1910,  pp.  211-218. 

WARD,  H.  L.  The  Brown  Bat  in  Wisconsin.  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  VIII, 
Oct.,  1910,  pp.  180-182. 

WOOD,  E.  F.  A  Study  of  the  Mammals  of  Champaign  County,  Illinois.  Bull. 
111.  State  Lab.  Nat.  Hist.,  VIII,  1910,  pp.  501—613. 

1911 

EVERMANN,  B.  W.  and  CLARK,  H.  W.     Notes  on  the  Mammals  of  the  Lake  Maxin- 

kuckee  Region.     Proc.  Wash.  Acad.  Sci.,  XIII,  1911,  pp.  1-34. 
WARD,  H.  L.     Additional   Wisconsin  Record  of  Allegheny  Least  Weasel.     Bull. 

Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  IX,  1911,  p.  82. 
WARD,  H.  L.     The  Status  of  Hoy's  Shrew  in  Wisconsin.     Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist. 

Soc.,  IX,  1911,  pp.  83-84. 
WOOD,  N.  A.     Results  of  the  Mershon  Expedition  to  the  Charity  Islands,  Lake 

Huron  [Saginaw  Bay,  Michigan].     I3th  Rept.  Mich.  Acad.  Sci.,  1911,  pp.  131- 

134- 

WOOD,  N.  A.  A  Biological  Survey  of  the  Sand  Dune  Region  on  the  South  Shore 
of  Saginaw  Bay,  Michigan.  Mich.  Geol.  &  Biol.  Surv.  Pub.  for  1911,  pp.  309- 
312. 


GLOSSARY. 


Allantoic  —  A   membranous    sac-like    appendage    for  effecting   oxygenation   and 

other  changes  in  the  blood,  developed  from  the  posterior  part  of  the  alimentary 

tract  in  the  embryos  of  mammals  and  other  vertebrates. 
Anchylose  —  To  grow  together;  to  unite  and  become  immovable. 
Alisphenoid  —  Pertaining  to  the  greater  wings  of  the  sphenoid  bone. 
Alveola  —  A  pit  or  cavity;  as  the  socket  of  a  tooth. 
Arboreal  —  Tree  dwelling. 
Antorbital  foramen  —  Infraorbital  foramen. 
Audital  bulla  (see  Bulla). 

Axilla  —  Hollow  space  between  junction  of  the  arm  and  shoulder ;  armpit. 
Basal  length  (of  skull)  —  Distance  from  lower  edge  of  foramen  magnum  to  extreme 

end  of  premaxillary  in  front  of  incisors. 
Basilar  length  of  Hensel  (of  skull)  —  Distance  from  lower  edge  of  foramen  magnum 

to  the  posterior  alveola  border  of  a  middle  incisor. 
Bicolor  —  Having  two  colors. 
Bicuspid  —  With  two  cusps. 
Bifid  —  Divided  into  two  parts. 
Brachydont  —  Having  a  low  or  short  crown. 
Brain  case  —  The  part  of  the  skull  enclosing  the  brain. 
Bulla,  pi.  bullae  —  The  swollen  portion  of  the  bony  part  of  the  external  meatus  of 

the  ear;  see  chart,  p.  12. 
Caecum  —  A  sac  or  pouch  open  only  at  one  end,  which  is  situated  at  the  junction 

of  the  large  and  small  intestines;  see  page  22. 
Canine  teeth  —  See  chart,  p.  1 1. 
Carnassial  teeth  —  See  chart,  p.  14. 

Calcar  —  A  bony  cartilage  extending  from  the  tarsus  along  the  edge  of  the  inter- 
femoral  membrane  in  bats. 
Carnivorous  —  Flesh  eating. 
Carpus  —  Bones  forming  the  wrist  joint. 
Caudal  —  Refers  to  the  tail. 

Cheek  teeth  —  Teeth  on  side  of  jaw  posterior  to  the  canine. 
Chironym  —  Unpublished  or  manuscript  name. 
Clavicle  —  The  collar  bone. 
Cloaca  —  The  common  cavity  into  which  the  hind  part  of  the  alimentary  canal  as 

well  as  the  urinary  and  generative  ducts  open. 
Conch  —  The  external  ear. 
Condyle  —  A  protuberance  on  the  end  of  bone  forming  a  point  of  articulation  with 

another  bone. 
Cortex  —  The  part  of  a  hair  which  surrounds  the  cellular  center  and  which  contains 

the  color  pigment. 
Crepuscular  —  Active  at  twilight. 

Cuticle  —  The  epidermis  or  outer  covering  of  the  true  skin ;  see  skin. 
Cusp  —  A  point  or  protuberance  on  crown  of  tooth. 

489 


4QO    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XL 

Deciduous  —  Periodically  shed,  not  permanent ;  as,  antlers  of  deer,  which  fall  off 
annually  or  milk  teeth,  which  are  replaced  by  others. 

Digitigrade  —  Walking  on  the  toes. 

Diphyodont  —  Having  two  successive  sets  df  teeth. 

Discoidal  —  Disk-shaped. 

Diurnal  —  Active  by  day. 

Dorsal  —  Refers  to  the  back. 

Epidermis  —  Outer  layer  of  the  skin;  see  skin. 

Epiphysis  —  A  cartilaginous  part  of  a  bone  which  ossifies  separately  and  subse- 
quently becomes  anchylosed  to  the  main  part  of  the  bone. 

Foramen,  pi.  foramina  —  A  hole  or  opening. 

Fossa,  pi.  fossae  —  A  depression  or  cavity. 

Fossorial  —  Burrowing. 

Frugivorous  —  Fruit  eating. 

Hallux  —  First  toe  of  hind  foot;  corresponds  to  big  toe  in  man. 

Heterodont  —  Having  diversified  teeth;  as,  molars,  canines,  and  incisors. 

Hibernate  —  To  become  torpid  and  remain  for  a  certain  length  of  time  in  a  coma- 
tose condition. 

Homonym  —  One  and  the  same  name  for  two  or  more  different  things. 

Hypsodont  —  Applied  to  teeth  having  long  crowns  and  short  roots,  such  as  the 
molars  of  the  Bovidce. 

Incisors  —  Front  teeth  between  canines;  see  chart,  p.  12. 

Inguinal  —  Pertaining  to  the  groin. 

Insectivorous  —  Insect  eating. 

Interfemoral  —  Between  the  thighs;  used  with  reference  to  the  membrane  between 
the  hind  limbs  of  a  bat. 

Interorbital  —  Between  the  eyes. 

Interorbital  breadth  —  Breadth  of  interorbital  constriction. 

Jugal  or  malar  bone  —  See  chart,  p.  12. 

Lambdoidal  ridge  —  A  ridge  on  side  of  back  portion  of  skull. 

Mamma,  pi.  mammae  —  A  teat. 

Mandible  —  The  lower  jaw. 

Mastoid  breadth  —  Distance  between  mastoid  processes. 

Meatus  —  Used  here  with  reference  to  the  opening  of  the  ear. 

Molars  —  The  back  cheek  teeth;  see  chart,  p.  n. 

Monophyodont  —  Having  only  one  set  of  teeth. 

Nares  —  The  nostrils. 

Nocturnal  —  Active  by  night. 

Nomen  nudum  or  anonym  —  Name  originally  given  to  something  without  an 
accompanying  diagnosis  or  a  reference  to  an  identifiable,  published  figure  or 
plate. 

Nucleated  —  Having  a  nucleus  or  nuclear  substance. 

Odontoblast  —  A  tooth  cell  that  produces  dentine. 

Omnivorous  —  Eating  food  of  all  kinds  and  indiscriminately. 

Orbit  —  Eye  socket. 

Palatilar  length  —  Distance  from  posterior  end  of  palatine  bone  to  posterior  base  of 
incisors. 

Pectoral  —  Pertaining  to  the  breast. 

Pelage  —  The  hair  or  fur. 

Pencillated  —  Refers  to  tuft  of  long  hairs  extending  beyond  the  end  of  the  tail. 


FEB.,  1912.     MAMMALS  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  WISCONSIN  —  CORY.        491 

Pentadactylous  —  With  five  fingers  or  toes. 

Placenta  —  The  organ  by  which  the  fetus  of  the  higher  mammals  is  nourished. 

It  is  connected  with  the  fetus  on  one  side  by  the  umbilical  cord  and  on  the 

other  is  attached  to  the  walls  of  the  uterus,  from  which  it  is  detached  at  birth. 
Plantar  tubercles  —  Wart-like  excrescences  on  under  surface  of  foot. 
Plantigrade  —  Walking  on  practically  the  whole  sole  of  the  foot. 
Pollex  —  The  thumb  or  first  toe  of  front  foot. 
Postorbital  —  Behind  the  eye. 

Premolars  —  Teeth  in  side  of  jaw  between  the  molars  and  the  canine. 
Ramus,  pi.  rami  —  The  ascending  part  of  the  lower  jaw  at  the  posterior  end. 
Rostrum  —  The  part  of  the  skull  in  front  of  the  eyes,  made  up  of  the  nasal  and  part 

of  the  premaxillary  and  maxillary  bones;  practically,  the  snout. 
Sagittal  crest  —  A  bony  ridge  along  the  middle  upper  surface  of  the  brain  case  in 

some  mammals. 

Sectorial  —  Adapted  for  cutting;  usually  used  to  describe  certain  teeth. 
Septum  —  A  partition. 
Skin  —  Consists  of  two  layers:  an  outer  one  termed  the  epidermis  or  cuticle  (which 

has  no  blood  vessels),  beneath  which  is  a  second  layer  or  true  skin,  variously 

called  dermis,  corium  or  cutis  vera,  which  is  abundantly  supplied  with  nerves  and 

blood-vessels.     The  skin  covers  the  outer  surface  of  the  body  and  continues  in  a 

softer  and  somewhat  modified  form  (termed  mucous  membrane)  as  a  lining  for 

the  internal  passages,  such  as  the  digestive  and  urogenital  tracts. 
Squamate  —  Scaly  or  covered  with  scales. 
Squamosal  bone  —  See  chart,  p.  n.     Forms  part  of  the  temporal  bone  in  man; 

what  answers  to  the  squamous  portion  in  man  is  called  the  squamosal  in  lower 

animals. 

Squamous  —  Covered  with  scales,  scaly  or  resembling  a  scale. 
Sulcate  —  Grooved. 

Supraorbital  —  Expansion  of  bone  above  the  eye,  noticeable  in  the  Hares  and  Rabbits. 
Suture  —  Line  of  union  or  point  of  junction  of  two  bones,  which  ultimately  unite 

and  become  immovable. 

Synonym  —  One  of  two  or  more  names  for  one  and  the  same  thing. 
Tactile  —  Pertaining  to  the  sense  of  touch. 
Tail  vertebrae  or  caudal  vertebras  —  See  page  10. 
Tarsus  —  Bones  forming  the  ankle  joint.     See  chart,  p.  10. 
Tautonym  —  Binomial  name,  having  generic  and  specific  names  alike. 
Terrestrial  —  Living  on  the  ground. 

Thoracic  —  Used  here  as  pertaining  to  the  chest  or  thorax. 
True  skin  —  Inner  portion  of  the  skin  known  as  dermis  or  corium  or  cutis  vera. 
Tooth  row  —  Continuous  row  of  teeth  on  side  of  jaw  posterior  to  the  canine  (most 

commonly  used  in  describing  Rodents). 
Topotype  —  A  specimen  collected  in  the  exact  locality  where  the  original  type  was 

obtained. 
Tragus,  pi.  tragi  —  An  erect  cartilaginous  process  in  the  conch  or  external  ear  of  a 

bat. 

Trochanter  —  One  of  the  bony  processes  of  the  thigh  bone. 
Truncate  —  Blunt. 
Tuberculate — Having  tubercles  or  small  projections;  commonly  used  in  this  work 

in  describing  teeth. 
Type  [of  genus]  —  The  species  which  was  originally  designated  or  later  selected 

in  conformity  with  the  rules  of  zoological  nomenclature  to  typify  a  genus. 


492     FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XI. 

Type  [of  species]  —  The  specimen  upon  which  has  been  based  the  first  recognizable 
description  of  the  species  or  subspecies  which  conforms  with  the  rules  govern- 
ing zoological  nomenclature.  % 

Type  locality  —  The  exact  locality  where  the  type  of  the  species  was  collected. 

Unicuspid  —  Having  a  single  cusp  or  point. 

Uropatagium  —  Interf emoral  membrane ;  see  interfemoral. 

Vacuity  —  A  vacant  space  or  opening. 

Ventral  —  Pertaining  to  the  abdominal  surface. 

Zonary  —  Resembling  a  belt  or  girdle. 

Zygoma  or  zygoma  tic  arch  —  The  bony  arch  of  the  cheek  formed  by  the  jugal  or 
malar  bone  and  the  zygoma  tic  process  of  the  squamosal;  see  chart,  p.  12. 

Zygomatic  breadth  —  Greatest  distance  between  outer  sides  of  zygomatic  arches. 


INDEX. 


Aard-varks 28 

Adelonycteris  fuscus 467 

Aeluropus 391 

Alee  americanus 74 

Alces 74 

Alces  americanus 74 

Amphisorex  leseurii 416 

Anteaters 15.  2S 

Anteaters,  Scaly 28 

Anteaters,  Spiny 

Antelope 19 

Antelope,  American 57,  87 

Antelopes 87,92,  128 

Antelopes,  Old  World 57 

Anthropoidea .  . 29,  136,  478 

Antilocapra  americana 92 

Antilocapridas 57 

Apes 16,  22,  23,  29,  478 

Arctomys  franklinii 144 

Arctomys  monax 15° 

Arctomys  monax  canadensis 157 

Armadillo 15 

Armadillos 10,28 

Artiodactyla 57.  58 

Arvicola  austerus 218 

Arvicola  gapperi 208 

Arvicola  hirsutus 218 

Arvicola  kennicotti 222 

Arvicola  oryzivora 202 

Arvicola  pinetorum 222 

Arvicola  riparius 214 

Arvicola  scalopsoides 222 

Ass 58 

Atalapha  cinerea 473 

Atalapha  borealis 47° 

Atalapha  noveboracensis 470 

B 

Badger,  American 348 

Badger,  European 33^ 

Badgers 327.  335 

Bandicoots 28 

Bat,  Big-eared 476 

Bat,  Brown 467 

Bat,  Free-tailed 477 

Bat,  Georgian 4^5 

Bat,  Gray 459 

Bat,  Hoary 472 

Bat,  Large  Brown  . 4^7 

Bat,  Little  Brown 455 

Bat,  Natterer's 448 

Bat,  Rafinesque 475 


Bat,  Red 47<> 

Bat,  Say's 460 

Bat,  Silver-haired 462 

Bat,  Silvery 462 

Bats 445 

Bats,  Fruit-eating 445 

Bats,  Insectivorous 29 

Bats,  Leaf-nosed 451 

Bats,  Typical 45* 

Bats,  Vampire 447 

Bear 93 

Bear,  Black 397 

Bear,  Florida  Black 142,  397 

Bear,  Polar 39& 

Bears 396 

Bears,  Black 39^ 

Bears,  Grizzly 396 

Beaver 159 

Beaver,  Canadian 159 

Beaver,  European 158 

Beavers I58 

Bison 87 

Bison  americanus 88 

Bison  bison 87 

Bison  bison  athabascae 88 

Bison  bonasus 87 

Bison,  American 87 

Bison,  European 87 

Bison,  Wood 87 

Blarina 422 

Blarina  brevicauda 423 

Blarina  brevicauda  aloga 430 

Blarina  brevicauda  carolinensis .  .  .  428 

Blarina  brevicauda  compacta 430 

Blarina  brevicauda  hulophaga ....  430 

Blarina  brevicauda  peninsulas 430 

Blarina  brevicauda  talpoides 430 

Blarina  brevicauda  telmalestes .  .  .  430 

Blarina  brevicaudata 423 

Blarina  carolinensis 424 

Blarina  exilipes 43° 

Blarina  eximius 43° 

Blarina  floridana 432 

Blarina  parva 43° 

Bos  americanus 88 

Bos  bison 87 

Bovidae 57.  58.  87 

Bovinae 87 

Buffalo.  .                87 


Caenolestes 49 

Calomys  palustris 202 


493 


494 


INDEX 


Camels 28,57,481 

Canidae 296 

Canis 3*3 

Canis  albus 321 

Canis  ater 315.321 

Canis  cinereoargenteus 300 

Canis  familiaris 313 

Canis  f rustror 325 

Canis  f  ulvus 305 

Canis  griseus 313 

Canis  latrans 322 

Canis  lupus 313 

Canis  lupus  nubilus 313 

Canis  mexicanus 315,  321 

Canis  nebracensis 325 

Canis  nebracensis  texensis 325 

Canis  nubilis 313 

Canis  nubilus 313 

Canis  occidentalis 313,  321 

Canis  occidentalis  var.  griseo-albus.   313 

Canis  rufus 32 1 

Canis  virginianus 300 

Canis  vulpes 305 

Capabara,  South  American 97 

Caprinae 87 

Carcajou ...... 353 

Cariacus  virginianus 60 

Caribou 58 

Caribou,  Woodland 81 

Carnivora 275 

Carnivores 16,  19 

Castor 159 

Castor  canadensis 159 

Castor  canadensis  carolinensis.. .  161,  169 

Castor  canadensis  texensis 169 

Castor  fiber. . .  ,m - 158,  159 

Castor  zibethicus 225 

Castoridae 158 

Castoroides 481 

Cat,  Bob 291 

Cat,  Civet 346 

Cat,  Domestic 278 

Cat,  Wild 291 

Cats 277 

Cats,  Wild 277 

Cephalopus 87 

Cervidae 58 

Cervinae 58,  60 

Cervus 67 

Cervus  alces 74 

Cervus  americanus 74 

Cervus  canadensis 67 

Cervus  canadensis  occidentalis. ...       67 

Cervus  dama  americanus 60 

Cervus  elaphus 67 

Cervus  elaphus  canadensis 67 

Cervus  merriami 67 

Cervus  nannoides 67 

Cervus  tarandus So 

Cervus  tarandus  caribou 8 1 

Cervus  virginianus 60,  64 

Cetacea 49 

Cete 18,  22,  25,  28 


57 

122 
340 
128 
130 
130 

135 
128 
128 

94 
445 
137 
144 

138 
143 
391 
440 
440 

453 
476 

17 
280 
280 
322 
183 
405 
430 
150 


Chevrotains 

Chickaree 

Chincha  hudsonica 

Chipmunk 

Chipmunk,  Gray 

Chipmunk,  Gray  Striped 

Chipmunk,  Little 

Chipmunk,  Southern 

Chipmunk,  Striped 

Chironectes 

Chiroptera 

Citellus 

Citellus  franklini 

Citellus  tridecemlineatus 

Citellus  tridecemlineatus  badius .  138, 

Coatis 

Condylura 

Condylura  cristata 

Corynorhinus 

Corynorhinus  macrotis 

Coryphodon 

Cougar 

Cougar,  Eastern 

Coyote 

Cricetinae 

Crocidurinae 

Cryptotis 

Cynomys  ludovicianus 

D 


Deer 57,58 

Deer,  Florida 62 

Deer,  Louisiana 62 

Deer,  Musk 19,  22 

Deer,  Northern 64 

Deer,  Northern  White-tailed 64 

Deer,  Red .- 22 

Deer,  Virginia 60 

Deer,  White-tailed 60 

Deerlets 57 

Dermoptera 29 

Didelphiidae 51 

Didelphis 51 

Didelphis  marsupialis 51 

Didelphis  virginiana 51 

Didelphis  virginiana  pigra 56 

Didelphus  Virginiana 52 

Didelphys  virginiana 52 

Didelphys  Virginianus 52 

Dingo 275 

Dipodidae 246 

Diprotodontia 28 

Dipus  hudsonius 246,  247 

Dog,  Domestic 298 

Dog,  Prairie 150 

Dog,  Wild 296 

Dogs 296 

Dolphin 15 

Dolphins 28 

Duck-bill 13,28 

Dugongs 28 

Duplicidentata 97,  258 


INDEX 


495 


Echidnas 28 

Echidnidae 28 

Edentata 28 

Elephant 15, 19,  22 

Elephants 23,  28,  57, 481 

Elephas  primigenius 482 

Elephus  canadensis 67 

Elk 58,67 

Elk,  American 67 

Elks 93 

Epanorthidae 49 

Epimys 180 

Epimys  alexandrinus 181,  183 

Epimys  norvegicus 180 

Epimys  rattus 181,  183 

Eptesicus 467 

Eptesicus  fuscus 467 

Eptesicus  fuscus  fuscus 467 

Eptesicus  fuscus  osceola 469 

Eptesicus  melanops 467 

Equidae 58 

Erethizon 254 

Erethizon  dorsatum 254 

Erethizon  dorsatus 254 

Erethizontidae 253 

Erethizontinae 254 

Ermine 366 

Euarctos 397 

Eucervaria 291 

Eutamias 135 

Eutamias  borealis 135, 136 

Eutamias  borealis  neglectus 135 

Eutamias  quadrivittatus  neglectus.  135 

Eutheria 28 

Evotomys 208 

Evotomys  carolinensis 212 

Evotomys  gapperi 208 

Evotomys  gapperi  loringi 212 

Evotomys  gapperi  ochraceus 212 

Evotomys  gapperi  rhoadsi 212 


Felidae «...  277 

Felinae 279 

Felis 279 

Felis  catus 277,  279 

Felis  concolor 280 

Felis  concolor  floridana 285 

Felis  couguar 280 

Felis  couguar  arundivaga 285 

Felis  couguar  coryi 285 

Felis  ruffa 291 

Ferae 275 

Fiber 225 

Fiber  obscurus 232 

Fiber  zibethicus 225 

Fiber  zibethicus  aquilonius 232 

Fiber  zibethicus  cinnampminus .  .  .  232 

Fiber  zibethicus  hudsonius 232 

Fiber  zibethicus  macrodon 232 


Fibre  zibethicus  rivalicius 232 

Fisher 387 

Fissipedia 275 

Flesh  Eaters \  .  .  275 

Fox,  Black 305 

Fox,  Cross 305 

Fox,  Gray 300 

Fox,  Red 305 

Fox,  Silver 305 

Fox,  Wisconsin  Gray 300 

Foxes 296 

Foxes,  Flying , 445 


Geomyidae 239 

Gebmys 239 

Geomys  arenarius 245 

Geomys  breviceps 244 

Geomys  breviceps  attwateri 244 

Geomys  breviceps  llanensis 244 

Geomys  breviceps  sagittalis 244 

Geomys  bursarius 239 

Geomys  colonus 245 

Geomys  cumberlandius 245 

Geomys  floridanus 245 

Geomys  floridanus  austrinus 245 

Geomys  lutescens 244 

Geomys  personatus 245 

Geomys  personatus  fallax 245 

Geomys  pinetis 239 

Geomys  texensis 245 

Geomys  tuza 245 

Geomys  tuza  mobilensis 245 

Giraffes 28,  57 

Giraffidae 57 

Glaucomys 102 

Glires 97 

Glis  canadensis 157 

Glutton 353 

Gnawing  Mammals 97 

Goat,  Domestic 58 

Goats 57,  58,  87, 92 

Goats,  Mountain 87 

Gopher 142 

Gopher,  Gray 144 

Gopher,  Pocket 239 

Gopher,  Striped 138 

Gophers,  Pocket 239 

Ground  Hog 150 

Gulo 352 

Gulo  borealis 353 

Gulo  luscus 353 

H 

Hapale 24 

Hare,  Varying 262 

Hares 259 

Hares,  Chief 258 

Hares,  Tailless .- .  .  258 

Hedgehog,  European 405 

Hedgehogs 29 


496 


INDEX 


Hesperomys  gracilis 193 

Hesperomys. leucopus »   185 

Hesperomys  nuttalli 198 

Hesperomys  palustris 202 

Hibernating  species 9 

Hibernation  (Badger) 352 

Hibernation  (Bats) 449,  456,  468 

Hibernation  (Black  Bears) 401 

Hibernation  (Florida  Black  Bear)  .  397 
Hibernation  (Gray  Chipmunk)..  .  .  131 
Hibernation  (Jumping  Mouse) ....  250 
Hibernation  (Little  Chipmunk) ...  136 

Hibernation  (Raccoon) 393 

Hibernation  (Striped  Prairie  Squir- 
rel)        141 

Hibernation  (Woodchuck) 154 

Hippopotami 28,  57 

Hominidas 36, 478 

Homo 479 

Homo  sapiens 479 

Homo  sapiens  americanus 479 

Hoofed  Mammals 28,  57 

Horse 57,  58 

Horses 28,  57 

Hyenas 29 

Hypudseus  ochrogaster 218 

Hypudaeus  rutilus  v.  gapperi 208 

Hyracoidea 28 

Hyraxes 28 

Hystrix  dorsata 254 

Hystrix  hudsonius 254 


Ictidomys 138 

Ictis 366 

Indian,  American 479 

Insect  Eaters 29,  405 

Insectivora 405 

Insectivora  Vera 29, 406 

Insectivores 16,21 


Jerboas 25 

Jackalls 296 

Jaculus  americanus 247 

Jaculus  hudsonius 247 

Jaculus  labradorius 247 

K 

Kangaroos 28 


Lasionycteris 462 

Lasionycteris  noctivagans 462 

Lasiurus 470 

Lasiurus  borealis 470 

Lasiurus  cinerea 473 

Lasiurus  cinereus 473 

Lasiurus  noveboracensis 470 


Latax  lutris 

Lemuroidea 29 

Lemurs 29 

Lemurs,  Flying 

Leporidas 

Lepus 

Lepus  americanus. 262 

Lepus  americanus  phaeonotus 

Lepus  americanus  struthopus 

Lepus  americanus  virginianus 

Lepus  aquaticus 

Lepus  campestris 

Lepus  nanus 

Lepus  sylvaticus 

Lepus  sylvaticus  mearnsii 

Lepus  timidus 

Lion 

Lion,  Mountain 

Lions 275 

Llamas 

Lucivec ' 

Lupine 

Lupus  latrans 

Lupus  occidentalis 

Lutra 

Lutra  canadensis 

Lutra  canadensis  lataxina 

Lutra  canadensis  vaga 

Lutra  degener 

Lutra  hudsonica 

Lutreola 

Lutreola  vison 

Lutreola  vison  lutreocephalus .... 

Lutrinae 

Lyncus 

Lyncus  ruf us 

Lynx 286 

Lynx  borealis 

Lynx  canadensis 

Lynx  gigas 

Lynx  ruff  us 

Lynx  ruffus  floridanus 

Lynx  rufus 

Lynx  vulgaris 

Lynx,  Bay 

Lynx,  Canada 

Lynxes 

M 

Macrotolagus 262 

Mammals,  Gnawing 29,  97 

Mammals,  Hoofed 28,  57 

Mammals,  Pouched 49 

Mammoth 48 1 ,  482 

Mammoth,  Northern 482 

Mammoths 481 

Mammut 482 

Man 478 

Manatees 16,  28 

Manis 15 

Marmosets 24 

Marmota 150 


327 
478 
478 

29 
259 
261 
265 
262 
265 
265 
271 
265 
266 
266 
266 
261 

16 
280 
277 

57 
287 
296 
322 
313 
330 
330 
334 
334 
334 
330 


330 
287 
291 
287 
287 
287 
294 
291 
294 
291 
286 
291 
287 
277 


INDEX 


497 


Marmota  monax 155 

Marmota  monax  canadensis 157 

Marmota  monax  ignavus 155 

Marmotinae 137 

Marsupialia 49 

Marsupials 49 

Marten 381 

Marten,  Pennant's 387 

Marten,  Pine 381 

Martens 352 

Martes 358,  381 

Mastodon,  American 482 

Mastodon  americanus 482 

Mastodons 481 

Megachiroptera 445 

Megalonyx 481 

Meles 336 

Meles  labradoria 348 

Melinae. 335 

Mephitis 337 

Mephitis  americana  v.  hudsonica..  340 

Mephitis  avia 344 

Mephitis  hudsonica 340 

Mephitis  interrupta 346 

Mephitis  mephitis 337,  345 

Mephitis  mephitis  avia 344 

Mephitis  mephitis  elongata 345 

Mephitis  mephitis  mesomelas 345 

Mephitis  mephitis  putida 337,  345 

Mephitis  mesomelas  avia 344 

Meriones  americanus 247 

Metatheria 28 

Mice 171 

Mice,  Jumping 246 

Microchiroptera 450 

Microsorex 418 

Microsorex  alnorum 420 

Microsorex  hoyi 418 

Microsorex  winnemana 420 

Microtinae 208 

Microtus 213,  214 

Microtus  austerus 218 

Microtus  breweri 217 

Microtus  drummondi 217 

Microtus  minor 222 

Microtus  nemoralis 224 

Microtus  nesophilus 217 

Microtus  ochrogaster 218 

Microtus  ochrogaster  ludovicianus.  22 1 

Microtus  pennsylvanicus 214 

Microtus  pennsylvanicus  acadicus.  217 
Microtus  pennsylvanicus  fontigenus  217 

Microtus  pennsylvanicus  nigrans. .  217 

Microtus  pinetorum 224 

Microtus  pinetorum  auricularis.  .  .  224 

Microtus  pinetorum  scalopsoides. .  222 

Microtus  shattucki 217 

Microtus  terraenovae 217 

Microtus  terrestris 213 

Microtus  xanthognathus 218 

Mictomys 233 

Mink 361 

Mink,  Harlan's 361 


Minks 327-352 

Mole,  European 433 

Mole,  Prairie 435 

Mole,  vStar-nosed 440 

Moles 433 

Molossidae 477 

Monkeys 16,  29, 478 

Monotremata 28 

Monotremes 9,  23,  24,  26 

Moose 58,  74 

Moose,  Alaskan 80 

Moschinae 58 

Mouse,  Baird's  Deer 190 

Mouse,  Bangs's  Lemming. .......  237 

Mouse,  Canadian  Deer 193 

Mouse,  Canadian  White-footed. .  .  193 

Mouse,  Cooper's 235 

Mouse,  Cooper's  Field 235 

Mouse,  Deer 1 84 

Mouse,  Dyche's  Harvest 201 

Mouse,  Goss's  Lemming 233 

Mouse,  House 176 

Mouse,  Hudson  Bay  Jumping ....  247 

Mouse,  Jumping 249 

Mouse,  Little  Meadow 222 

Mouse,  Meadow 214 

Mouse,  Michigan  Deer 190 

Mouse,  Mole 222 

Mouse,  Mole  Pine 222 

Mouse,  Northern  White-footed.  .  .  185 
Mouse,     Northern     White-footed 

Wood 185 

Mouse,  Prairie  Deer 190 

Mouse,  Prairie  Meadow 218 

Mouse,  Prairie  White-footed 190 

Mouse,  Red 201 

Mouse,  Red-backed 208 

Mouse,  Rice  Field 202 

Mouse,  Southern  Golden 198 

Mouse,  Western  Cotton 196 

Mouse,  White-footed 184 

Mouse,  White-footed  Wood 184 

Mouse,  Wood 210 

Mouse,  Woodland  Deer 185 

Mouse,  Woodland  Jumping 253 

Muridae 171 

Murinae 171,176 

Mus 176 

Mus  arvalis 213 

Mus  aureolus 198 

Mus  bairdii 190 

Mus  bursarius 239 

Mus  citellus 137 

Mus  decumanus 180 

Mus  floridanus 204 

Mus  leucopus 185 

Mus  monax 1 50 

Mus  musculus 176 

Mus  norvegicus 180 

Mus  palustris 202 

Mus  pennsylvanica 214 

Mus  rattus 180 

Mus  rutillus..  208 


498 


INDEX 


Mus  sylvaticus  noveboracensis.  .183,  185 

Mus  volans •...*.  102 

Musculus  leucopus. .  . 184 

Musk-oxen . . .  .  : 87 

Muskrat 225 

Musquash 226 

Mustela 381 

Mustela  americana 381 

Mustela  americana  abieticola 386 

Mustela  americana  brumalis 386 

Mustela  americanus 381 

Mustela  atrata 386 

Mustela  canadensis 387 

Mustela  cicognanii ......  375 

Mustela  lutra 330 

Mustela  lutra  canadensis 330 

Mustela  lutreocephalus .  .  .  . 361 

Mustela  martes 381 

Mustela  pacifica '.  387 

Mustela  pennanti. .  . 387 

Mustela  pusilla 378 

Mustela  putorius 358 

Mustela  zibellina 385 

Mustelidae •  327 

Mustelinae 351 

Mydaus  meliceps 335 

Myotis, 455 

Myotis  grisescens 459 

Myotis  lucifugus 455 

Myotis  subulatus 460 

Myotis  velifer 459 

Myrmecobius 496 

Myrmecophagidae 153 

Mysticete 288 

N 

Napaeozapus 246 

Napaeozapus  insignis 253 

Narwhal 15,  28 

Neosciurus 115 

Neosorex 420 

Neosorex  albibarbis 422 

Neosorex  navigator 420 

Neosorex  palustris .  .  42 1 

Neotoma 204 

Neotoma  floridana 180,  206 

Neotoma  floridana  attwateri .....  206 

Neotoma  floridana  illinoensis 204 

Neotoma  floridana  rubida 207 

Neotoma  magister 206 

Neotoma  pennsylvanica 206 

Neotominse 204 

Nomarthra ' 28 

Nycteris 470 

Nycteris  borealis 470 

Nycteris  borealis  seminolus 472 

Nycteris  cinereus 472 

Nycticeius 475 

Nycticeius  humeralis 475 

Nycticejus  crepuscularis 475 

Nycticejus  humeralis 475 

Nyctinomus  braziliensis 449 


Nyctinomus  depressus 477 

Nyctinomus  macrotis  nevadensis .  .  477 

Nyctinomus  mexicanus 477 

o 

Ochotonidae . 97,  258 

Ochrotomys 198 

Odocoileus 60 

Odocoileus  americanus 60 

Odocoileus  americanus  borealis  ...  64 

Odocoileus  osceola 66 

Odocoileus  speleus 60 

Odocoileus  virginianus 60*64 

Odocoileus  virginianus  borealis  ...  64 

Odocoileus  virginianus  louisianae .  .  66 

Odocoileus  virginianus  macrourus .  66 

Odontocete 28 

Odontoccelus  americanus 60 

Okapi 57 

Opossum,  Florida 56 

Opossum,  Virginia 51 

Opossums 51 

Ornithorhynchidae 28 

Oryzomys 202 

Oryzomys  palustris 202 

Oryzomys  palustris  coloratus 203 

Oryzomys  palustris  natator 203 

Otter 330 

Otter,  Canada 330 

Otter,  Sea 327 

Otters 327 

Ovibovinae 87 

Oxen 57.  58,  87 


Painter 280 

Panther 280 

Panthers 277 

Paralces 74 

Paralces  americanus 74 

Parameles 28,  49 

Parascalops  breweri 439 

Parasciurus 109 

Peccary 19 

Pecora 57 

Pedomys 218 

Pekan 387 

Perissodactyla 28,  57 

Peromyscus 183,  184 

Peromyscus  arboreus 183 

Peromyscus  bairdi 190 

Peromyscus  canadensis 193 

Peromyscus  gossypinus 197 

Peromyscus  gossypinus  anastasae. .  197 
Peromyscus  gossypinus  mega- 

cephalus 196 

Peromyscus  gossypinus  mississip- 

piensis. 196 

Peromyscus  gossypinus  palmarius .  197 

Peromyscus  leucopus 184 

Peromyscus  leucopus  ammodytes.  .  189 


INDEX 


499 


Peromyscus  leucopus  fusus 189 

Peromyscus  leucopus  noveboracen- 

sis 185 

Peromyscus  maniculatus 194 

Peromyscus  maniculatus  abietor- 

um 195 

Peromyscus  maniculatus  arcticus . .  1 94 
Peromyscus  maniculatus  argen- 

tatus 196 

Peromyscus  maniculatus  bairdi.. .  .  190 

Peromyscus  maniculatus  eremus. . .  196 

Peromyscus  maniculatus  gracilis. . .  193 
Peromyscus  maniculatus  nubiter- 

rae 196 

Peromyscus  michiganensis 190 

Peromyscus  nuttalli 200 

Peromyscus  nuttalli  aureolus 198 

Phalanger 22 

Phascologale 49 

Picas 258 

Pig 18 

Pig,  Guinea ' 97 

Pigs 28 

Pinnipedia 275 

Pipistrellus 465 

Pipistrellus  subflavus 465 

Pithecanthropus 478,  479 

Pitymys 222 

Platypus,  Duck-bill 28 

Polecat 340 

Polyprotodontia 51 

Porcupine 18,  255 

Porcupine,  Canada 254 

Porcupines 257 

Porcupines,  American 253 

Porcupines,  Old  World 253 

Porpoises 9,  28 

Potamogale 405 

Pouched  Mammals 49 

Primates 16,  23,  25,  29,  36, 478 

Proboscidea 28 

Proboscidians 48 1 

Procyon 39 1 

Procyon  lotor 392 

Procyon  lotor  elucus 395 

Procyonidae 391 

Procyoninae 39 1 

Pronghorn 57,  87 

Prototheria 28 

Pteromys  hudsonicus 106 

Pteromys  sabrinus 106 

Pteromys  volucella 103 

Pteropodidae 445 

Pteropus  edulis 447 

Putorius 358 

Putorius  alleghenieneis 378 

Putorius  cicognanii 375 

Putorius  cicognanii  richardsoni. . . .  377 

Putorius  ereminea 366, 373 

Putorius  longicauda 380,  381 

Putorius  longicauda  spaclix 374 

Putorius  lutensis 365 

Putorius  lutreolus 361 


Putorius  noveboracensis 366 

Putorius  noveboracensis  notius .  .  .  380 

Putorius  noveboracensis  occisor .  .  .  380 

Putorius  peninsulae 380 

Putorius  pusillus 378 

Putorius  rixosus 379 

Putorius  rixosus  allegheniensis .  .  .  .  378 

Putorius  vison 361,  365 

Putorius  vison  lacustris 365 

Putorius  vison  lutreocephalus .  .  .  .  361 

Putorius  vison  vulgivagus 365 

R 

Rabbit,  European 260 

Rabbit,  Gray 266 

Rabbit,  Jack 265 

Rabbit,  Jackass 265 

Rabbit,  Mearns's  Cotton-tail  ....  266 

Rabbit,  Snow-shoe 262 

Rabbit,  Swamp 271 

Rabbits 259 

Raccoon 392 

Raccoon,  Crab-eating 391 

Raccoons 391 

Rangifer 80 

Rangifer  arcticus 84 

Rangifer  caribou 81 

Rangifer  tarandus 80,  81,  85 

Rangifer  terrasnovae 84 

Rat,  Black 183 

Rat,  Brown 180 

Rat,  House 180 

Rat,  Illinois  Wood 204 

Rat,  Norway 180 

Rat,  Rice 202 

Rat,  Roof 183 

Rat,  Wood 207 

Rats 171 

Reindeer 58,  80 

Reindeer,  Old  World 85 

Reithrodontomys 171 

Reithrodontomys  dychei 201 

Rhinoceros 18,  19,  28 

Rodentia  —  See  Glires 97 

Rodents 15,  16,  97 

Ruminantia 57 

Ruminants 57 


Saber-tooths 481 

Sable,  American ' 381 

Scalops  aquaticus 435 

Scalops  aquaticus  machrinus 435 

Scalops  argentatus 435 

Scalopus 434 

Scalopus  anastasae 438 

vScalopus  aquaticus 438 

Scalopus  aquaticus  australis 438 

Scalopus  aquaticus  machrinus ....  435 

Scalopus  virginianus 434 

Sciuridae 98 


500 


INDEX 


Sciurinae 108 

Sciuropterinae *.  .  .      102 

Sciuropterus 102 

Sciuropterus  sabrinus 106 

Sciuropterus  sabrinus  macrotis.  .  .      107 

Sciuropterus  silus 107 

Sciuropterus  volans 102 

Sciuropterus  volans  querceti 107 

Sciuropterus  volans  volans 102 

Sciuropterus  volucella 102 

Sciuropterus  volucella  hudsonius .  .      106 

Sciurus 108 

Sciurus  bicolor 98 

Sciurus  carolinensis 115,116 

Sciurus  carolinensis  extimus 121 

Sciurus  carolinensis  fuliginosus.  .115,  121 
Sciurus  carolinensishypophaeus.il 6,  121 

Sciurus  carolinensis  leucotis 116 

Sciurus  hudsonicus 122,  127 

Sciurus  hudsonicus  gymnicus 127 

Sciurus  hudsonicus  loquax 122 

Sciurus  hudsonicus  minnesota.  ...     123, 

124,  127 

Sciuru?  hudsonius 122,  123 

Sciurus  leucotis 1 16 

Sciurus  ludovicianus 109 

Sciurus  magnicaudatus 109 

Sciurus  migratorius 116 

Sciurus  niger 109, 114,  116 

Sciurus  niger  neglectus 114 

Sciurus  niger  rufiventer 109 

vSciurus  niger  texanus 114 

Sciurus  occidentalis 109 

Sciurus  rufiventer 109 

Sciurus  sabrinus 106 

Sciurus  Sayi 109 

Sciurus  soricinus 98 

Sciurus  striatus 128,  130 

Sciurus  striatus  asiaticus 135 

Sciurus  tridecem-lineatus 138 

Sciurus  volans 102 

Sciurus  vulgaris 108 

Sciurus  vulpinus 109 

Scotophilus  fuscus 467 

Scotophilus  georgianus 465 

Scotophilus  noctivagans 462 

Seals 16,  23,  29 

Selenodontia 57 

Sheep 57,58,87 

Sheep,  Mountain 87 

Shrew,  Carolina 416 

Shrew,  Carolina  Short-tailed 428 

Shrew,  Common 411 

Shrew,  Hoy's 418 

Shrew,  Marsh 421 

Shrew,  Mole 423 

Shrew,  Pigmy 418 

Shrew,  Richardson's 414 

Shrew,  Short-tailed 423 

Shrew,  Small  Short-tailed 430 

Shrew,  Smoky 415 

Shrew,  Southern 416 

Shrew,  Water 421 


Shrews 406 

Shrews,  Long-tailed 409 

Shrews,  .Short-tailed 409,  422 

Simiidae 479 

Simplicidentata 97,  98 

Sirenia 25,  28 

Sitomys  megacephalus 196 

Skunk,  Alleghenian  Spotted 346 

Skunk,  Canada 337 

Skunk,  Eastern 337 

Skunk,  Hudsonian 340 

Skunk,  Illinois 344 

Skunk,  Northern r  .  340 

Skunk,  Prairie  Spotted 348 

Skunk,  Spotted 347 

Skunks 327,335 

Sloth 1 6 

Sloths 15,  28 

Sloths,  Giant 481 

Sminthinae 246 

Solenodontidae 406 

Sorex 410 

Sorex  aquaticus 434 

Sorex  araneus 410 

Sorex  Blarina  brevicaudatus 423 

Sorex  brevicaudus 422,  423 

Sorex  carolinensis 428 

Sorex  cooperi 411 

Sorex  cristatus 440 

Sorex  Dekayi 423 

Sorex  dispar 418 

Sorex  eximius 430 

Sorex  fisheri 418 

Sorex  fontinalis 417 

Sorex  Forsteri 411 

Sorex  fumeus 415 

Sorex  hoyi 418 

Sorex  longirostris 416 

Sorex  palustris 42 1 

Sorex  parvus 430 

Sorex  personatus 411 

Sorex  personatus  miscix 417 

Sorex  platyrhinus 411 

Sorex  richardsonii 414,  415 

Sorex  talpoides 422,  423 

Soricidae 406 

Soricinae 410 

Spermophile,  Franklin's 144 

Spermophile,  Striped 138 

Spermophile,  Thirteen-lined 140 

Spermophilus  franklinti 144 

Spermophilus  grammurus 144 

Spermophilus  tridecemlineatus . ...  138 

Spermophilus  tridecimlineatus .  ...  138 

Spilogale 346 

Spilogale  ambarvalis 347 

Spilogale  indianola 347 

Spilogale  interrupta 348 

Spilogale  putorius 346 

Squirrel,  Flying 102 

Squirrel,  Fox 109 

Squirrel,  Franklin's  Ground 144 

Squirrel,  Franklin's  Prairie 144 


INDEX 


501 


Squirrel,  Gray 1 15,  116 

Squirrel,  Gray  Ground ....'. 144 

Squirrel,  Gray  Prairie 144 

Squirrel,  Migratory 112 

Squirrel,  Northern  Flying 106 

Squirrel,  Northern  Gray 116 

Squirrel,  Prairie 142 

Squirrel,  Red 122 

Squirrel,  Southern  Flying 102 

Squirrel,  Southern  Gray 115 

Squirrel,  Southern  Red 122 

Squirrel,  Striped  Ground 138 

Squirrel,  Striped  Prairie 138 

Squirrel,  Thirteen-lined  Ground. . .  138 

Squirrel,  Western  Fox 109 

Squirrels 98 

Squirrels,  Carolina 112 

Squirrels,  Flying 102 

Squirrels,  Fox 114 

Stags 92 

Suidas 58 

Suinea 57 

Swine 57,58 

Sylvilagus 266 

Sylvilagus  aquations 271 

Sylvilagus  aquaticus  littoralis 274 

Sylvilagus  floridanus 270 

Sylvilagus  floridanus  alacer 270 

Sylvilagus  floridanus  chapmani .  .  .  274 

Sylvilagus  floridanus  hitchensi. . .  .  270 
Sylvilagus  floridanus  mallurus.  .266,  270 

Sylvilagus  floridanus  mearnsii ....  266 

Sylvilagus  palustris 274 

Sylvilagus  palustris  pal udi cola. ...  274 

Synaptomys 233 

Synaptomys  cooperi 233 

Synaptomys  cooperi  fatuus 237 

Synaptomys  cooperi  gossii 233 

Synaptomys  cooperi  helaletus ....  238 

Synaptomys  cooperi  stonei 234 

Synaptomys  fatuus 237 

Synaptomys  gossi 233 

Synaptomys  helaletus  gossii 233 


Talpa  europoea 433 

Talpa  machrina 435 

Talpidae 433 

Talpinae 434 

Tamias 128 

Tamias   asiaticus   var.    quadrivit- 
tatus   135 

Tamias  lysteri 130 

Tamias  quadrivittatus 135 

Tamias  quadrivittatus  neglectus.  .  135 

Tamias  striatus 128,  130 

Tamias  striatus  griseus 130 

Tamias  striatus  lysteri 128,130,132 

Tamias  striatus  venustus 132 

Tamiasciurus 122 

Tapeti 271 

Tapir 57 


Tapirs 28 

Taxidea 348 

Taxidea  americana 348 

Taxidea  taxus 348 

Taxidea  taxus  berlandieri 351 

Thalassarctus  maritimus 396 

Tiger 22 

Tiger,  Saber- toothed 275 

Tigers 275,277 

Tragulidae 57 

Tragulina 57 

Trichosurus  vulpccula 22 

Tylopoda 57 

u 

Ungulata 57 

Ungulates 16, 17,  20,  23 

Ungulates,  American 57 

Urocyon 300 

Urocyon  cinereoargenteus 300 

Urocyon  cinereoargenteus  borealis .  304 
Urocyon     cinereoargenteus     flori- 
danus    304 

Urocyon   cinereoargenteus   ocyth- 

ous 303 

Ursidae 396 

Ursus 397 

Ursus  americana 397 

Ursus  americanus 397 

Ursus  americanus  sornborgeri 403 

Ursus  arctos 397 

Ursus  cinnamomum 397 

Ursus  floridanus 142,  403 

Ursus  gulo 352 

Ursus  lotor 391,  392 

Ursus  luscus 353 

Ursus  luteolus 403 

Ursus  taxus 348 

V 

Vampyrus 447 

Vesperimus  leucopus 185 

Vespertilio  borealis 470 

Vespertilio  cinereus 472 

Vespertilio  fuscus 467 

Vespertilio  gryphus 455 

Vespertilio  gryphus  lucif ugus 455 

Vespertilio  humeralis 475 

Vespertilio  lucif  ugus 455 

Vespertilio  myotis 455 

Vespertilio  noctivagans 462 

Vespertilio  npveboracensis 470 

Vespertilio  pipistrellus 465 

Vespertilio  pruinosus 472 

Vespertilio  subflavus 465 

Vespertilio  subulatus 460 

Vespertilionidae 451 

Vespertilipninae 455 

Vespertillio  noctivagans 462 

Vespertillio  Novcboracensis 470 

Vespertillio  pruinosus 472 


502 


INDEX 


Vesperugo  carolinensis 465 

Vesperugo  georgianus 465 

Vicunas 57 

Viverra  putorius 346 

Vole,  Little 222 

Vole,  Meadow 214 

Vole,  Mole-like 222 

Vole,  Prairie 218 

Vole,  Red-backed 208 

Vole,  Yellow-nosed 218 

Vulpes 305 

Vulpes  argentatus 306 

Vulpes  decussatus 306 

Vulpes  deletrix 312 

Vulpes  fulva 306 

Vulpes  fulvus 305 

Vulpes  fulvus  argentatus 306 

Vulpes  regalis 312 

Vulpes  rubicosa 312 

Vulpes  rubicosa  bangsi. 312 

Vulpes  virginianus 300,  303 

Vulpes  vulgaris 306 

Vulpine 296 

w 

Walruses 29 

Wapiti 67 

Weasel,  Alleghenian  Least 378 

Weasel,  Bonaparte's 375 


Weasel,  Minnesota  Long-tailed .  .  .      374 

Weasel,  New  York 366 

Weasels 327,  352 

Whale,  Sulphur-bottom 10 

Whales 9,  16,  23,  24,  26,  28 

Whales,  Sperm 28 

Whales,  Toothed %.  .  13,  28 

Whales,  Whalebone 28 

Wolf,  Gray 313 

Wolf,  Prairie 322 

Wolf,  Timber 313 

Wolverine 352,  353 

Wolves 296 

Wombat 23 

Wombats 28 

Woodchuck 150 

Woodchuck,  Canada 157 

Woodchucks, 98 


Zapodidae 246 

Zapodinas 246 

Zapus 246 

Zapus  hudsonius 247 

Zapus  hudsonius  americanus 251 

Zapus  hudsonius  campestris 251 

Zapus  hudsonius  ladas 251 

Zenarthra..  28 


COUNTIES 


WISCONSIN 


Adams. 

40 

Ford. 

26 

Livingston. 

27 

Randolph. 

83 

Alexander. 

102 

Franklin. 

85 

Logan. 

46 

Richland. 

76 

Bond. 

68 

Fulton. 

34 

McDonough. 

37 

Rock  Island. 

15 

Boone. 

4 

Gallatin. 

92 

McHenry. 

5 

St.  Clair. 

81 

Brown. 

42 

Greene. 

63 

McLean. 

28 

Saline. 

93 

Bureau. 

18 

Grundy. 

22 

Macon. 

56 

Sangamon. 

57 

Calhoun. 

62 

Hamilton. 

91 

Macoupin. 

65 

Schuyler. 

41 

Carroll. 

13 

Hancock. 

39 

Madison. 

67 

Scott. 

60 

Cass. 

43 

Hardin. 

99 

Marion. 

78 

Shelby. 

55 

Champaign. 

49 

Henderson. 

38 

Marshall. 

30 

Stark. 

3i 

Christian. 

58 

Henry. 

17 

Mason. 

44 

Stephenson. 

2 

Clark. 

73 

Iroquois. 

25 

Massac. 

IOO 

Tazewell. 

33 

Clay. 

77 

Jackson. 

95 

Menard. 

45 

Union. 

96 

Clinton. 

79 

Jasper. 

7i 

Mercer. 

16 

Vermilion. 

50 

Coles. 

53 

Jefferson. 

86 

Monroe. 

82 

Wabash. 

89 

Cook. 

7 

Jersey. 

64 

Montgomery. 

66 

Warren. 

36 

Crawford. 

74 

Jo  Daviess. 

I 

Morgan. 

59 

Washington. 

80 

Cumberland. 

72 

Johnson. 

97 

Moultrie. 

54 

Wayne. 

87 

Dekalb. 

10 

Kane. 

9 

Ogle. 

ii 

White. 

90 

Dewitt. 

47 

Kankakee. 

24 

Peoria. 

32 

Whiteside. 

14 

Douglas. 

52 

Kendall. 

21 

Perry. 

84 

Will. 

23 

DuPage. 

8 

Knox. 

35 

Piatt. 

48 

Williamson. 

94 

•Edgar. 

5i 

Lake. 

6 

Pike. 

61 

Winnebago. 

3 

Edwards. 

88 

La  Salle. 

20 

Pope. 

98 

Woodford. 

29 

Effingham. 

70 

Lawrence. 

75 

Pulaski. 

101 

Fayette. 

69 

Lee. 

12 

Putnam. 

19 

WISCONSIN   COUNTIES 

Adams. 

43 

Eau  Claire. 

32 

Manitowoc. 

50 

St.  Croix. 

35 

Apostle  Isls. 

7 

Florence. 

I 

Marathon. 

27 

Sauk. 

56 

(See  Ashland  Co.) 

Fond  du  Lac. 

47 

Marinette. 

20 

Sawyer. 

12 

Ashland. 

7 

Forest. 

2 

Marquette. 

45 

Shawano. 

25 

Barren. 

H 

Gates. 

15 

Milwaukee. 

65 

Sheboygan. 

51 

Bayfield. 

8 

Grant. 

60 

Monroe. 

4i 

Taylor. 

16 

Brown. 

23 

Green. 

70 

Oconto. 

19 

Trempealeau. 

38 

Buffalo. 

37 

Green  Lake. 

46 

Oneida. 

4 

Vernon. 

58 

Burnett. 

10 

Iowa. 

61 

Outagamie. 

24 

Vilas. 

3 

Calumet. 

49 

Iron. 

6 

Ozaukee. 

52 

Wai  worth. 

68 

Chippewa. 

3i 

Jackson. 

39 

Pepin. 

34 

Washburn. 

ii 

Clark. 

30 

Jefferson. 

63 

Pierce. 

36 

Washington. 

53 

Columbia. 

55 

Juneau. 

42 

Polk. 

13 

Waukesha. 

64 

Crawford. 

59 

Kenosha. 

67 

Portage. 

28 

Waupaca. 

26 

Dane. 

62 

Kewaunee. 

22 

Price. 

5 

Waushara. 

44 

Dodge. 

54 

La  Crosse. 

40 

Racine. 

66 

Winnebago. 

48 

Door. 

21 

Lafayette. 

71 

Richland.- 

57 

Wood. 

29 

Douglas. 

9 

Langlade. 

18 

Rock. 

69 

Dunn. 

33 

Lincoln. 

17 

Rusk. 

15 

504 


ARKANSAS^.  JT  E  N  NE  S  S  E  E 


89.  Wib.uh. 

90.  White. 
81.  Hamilton. 
92.  Gillatm. 

85.  Jackson. 
98.  Union. 

97.  Johnson. 
.98.  Pope. 

98.  Hardin. 

100.  Massac. 

101.  Pulaski. 
Iii2.  Alexander. 

WISCONSIN 
COUNTIES. 

1.  Florence. 

2.  Forest 
I.  Vllas. 

4.  Oneida. 

5.  Price, 
a.  Iron. 

7.  Ashland. 

( inc.  Apostle  Isls.) 

8.  Bayfield. 

9.  Douglas. 

10.  Burnett. 

11.  Washburn. 
11  Sawyer. 
II.  Polk. 

14.  Barron. 

,5,  Rusk  or  Gates. 

It.  Taylor. 

17.  Lincoln. 

18.  Langlade. 

19.  Oconto. 
30.  Marinette. 

21.  Door. 

(inc.  islands). 

22.  Kewaunee. 

23.  Brown. 

24.  Outagamie. 
.  Shawano. 

28,-Waupaci. 

27.  Marathon. 

28.  Rortage. 

29.  Wood. 

30.  Clarke 
Sl.Chippewa. 

32,  Eau  Claire. 

33.  Dunn. 
34.Pepin. 
M.  St.  Ctoi». 
M.  Pierce 

37.  Buffalo. 

38.  Trempealeau. 
38.  Jackson. 

40.  U  Crowe. 

41.  Monroe. 

42.  Juntju. 

43.  Adams. 

44.  Wiushara. 

45.  Marquette. 
*8.  Green  Lake. 
47.  Fond  du  Lac. 
4H.  WinneMgo. 
49.  Calumet. 

M.  Manitowoc. 

51.  Sheboygan. 

52.  Oiaukee. 

53.  Washington. 

54.  Dodge. 

55.  Columbia. 

58.  Sauk. 
57.  Rkhland. 

59.  Crawford. 
«0.  Grant 
81.  Iowa. 

«.  Dane. 
81.  Jefferson. 
84.  Waukeshj 

86.  Milwaukee. 
88.  Racine. 

67.  Kenoshi. 

69.  Rock. 

70.  Green. 

71.  Lafayette. 


505 


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UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS-URBANA 

590. 5FI  C001 

FIELDIANA,  ZOOLOGY$CHGO 


